New Policy Series: State Policy Agenda to Support Adoption and Scaling of Evidence-Based Student Success Practices
Each year, millions of students begin their postsecondary journey and leave without a credential. This results in lost time and money—and for many, significant financial hardship.
Fortunately, research has identified programs and practices that dramatically improve student success. With this knowledge, we have the tools and the responsibility to change outcomes for students—particularly first-generation, low-income, and students of color who face disproportionate barriers. Yet for a variety of reasons, these efforts are rarely implemented at scale.
HCM’S newest policy series State Policy Agenda to Support Adoption and Scaling of Evidence-Based Student Success Practices examines state policies that support the scaling of evidence-based student success practices. This brief is the first in a series introducing a state policy agenda designed to expand and sustain evidence-based student success practices that drive completion and economic mobility. The series will outline existing frameworks and highlight policy solutions that enable states to scale these practices, with a focus on finance, affordability, and student supports.
Future briefs will examine specific policy areas and funding strategies, showcasing examples of effective state policies that support student success at scale. In particular, the series will feature three pillars of this agenda:
Finance Policy: exploring funding models, resource allocation, and state investment strategies.
Affordability: addressing financial aid, tuition policy, and students’ basic needs.
Student Supports: strengthening guided pathways, advising, and developmental education reform.
Together, these briefs aim to equip state leaders with actionable insights to advance evidence-based programs and transform the postsecondary landscape.
