Strivetogether Inc

Programs: The accelerator fund was created to expedite the progress of cradle to career network members across the strivetogether theory of action to change systems in their communities that result in improved outcomes for kids. The ultimate goal of accelerator fund partnerships is to achieve proof point, when they are operating in "systems change" on the theory of action and maintaining or improving at least 60 percent of indicators across six community level outcomes (kindergarten readiness, early grade reading, middle grade math, high school graduation, post-secondary enrollment, and post-secondary completion. ) the accelerator fund expedites progress towards proof point by building the capabilities and capacity of local leaders and practitioners to disrupt systems and improve outcomes for every child, cradle to career. Accelerator fund communities receive three primary investments over three years to catalyze action in their community, scale efforts that are working for kids, and spur progress towards community-wide goals. There are currently two cohorts of accelerator fund communities. Five of the six cohort 1 communities have achieved proof point status, prior to the end of their three year fund participation. The proof point communities have seen impressive growth in cradle to career outcomes, but also the reduction of disparity gaps based on race and income. For example, in tacoma, washington, the graduation rate has increased 53 percent since their 2010 baseline year, and black students are now graduating at a rate 3 percent higher than white students while the gap between hispanic and white students has narrowed from 17 to 3 percent. Ultimately, improving student outcomes along the cradle to career pipeline can impact the employment and economics of a community, as evidence in another proof point community, racine, wisconsin, which has decreased the unemployment rates between the city of racine and the state of wisconsin, the lowest gap in 25 years. Accelerator fund cohort 2 communities are also showing early signs of promise as they begin to implement strategies targeted at populations of students that have also historically been underserved, such as refugee populations.

strivetogether provides tailored assistance to communities within the network to help achieve critical benchmarks in the theory of action and to drive outcome improvement. Recent successes include the development of the road map project's system-wide racial equity essentials, a key component of their region's plan to change systems for better, more equitable results for every child.

the strivetogether cradle to career network convening is a 2 day event that brings together over 400 attendees, including school district leaders, business and philanthropic leaders, local government officials and cradle to career partnership staff, from nearly 70 communities across the united states. Attendees are working to improve educational outcomes for children from cradle to career in their community and are attending the convening to learn from peers and thought leaders and identify tangible ways to improve systems in their region. There was an 83% satisfaction rate for attendees as a result of their experience at the 2017 cradle to career network convening.

strivetogether supports a national network of communities operating in various stages of development as assessed by the strivetogether theory of action. This national network has grown to nearly 70 communities representing more than 10 million children across the country. Over the past few years significant progress has been made in strivetogether communities navigating across the theory of action. Currently 23 partnerships are in the "emerging" gateway, 40 partnerships in the "sustaining and 5 partnerships have achieved the "proof point" designation the highest designation within the strivetogether network.