College Readiness for All Toolbox to be piloted in states, districts, and schools
     The GE Foundation recently awarded a grant to Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) to move the PCN College Readiness For All Toolbox into a pilot implementation phase. PREL will work collaboratively with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and schools funded by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to encourage and assist states, districts, and schools with adopting a rigorous college-prep curriculum as the standard course of study for all students. This work will also involve developing a policy component for the Toolbox.

Postsecondary Group completes plan for Toolbox & welcomes new members
     PCN's Postsecondary Education Working Group, led by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), recently completed a three-year plan to develop a Postsecondary Education Toolbox, a set of resources that will help postsecondary leaders build the leadership skills and institutional capacity needed to help campus leaders enact the Shared Agenda's six principles and strengthen connections with K-12. Recognizing the need to mobilize the entire campus community toward underserved students' success, the Working Group recently welcomed two new and valued partners: the ACPA: College Student Educators International, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). The Working Group is now concentrating on seeking funding for Toolbox development. For more information on the Postsecondary Education Working Group, contact Nancy O'Neill at oneill@aacu.org.

Research Advisory Committee launches next phase of work
     On October 29, 2004, the College Board hosted the first meeting of the new Pathways Research Advisory Committee. A group of 40 partners, scholars, and other groups working on college access research gathered to discuss the Pathways research agenda. Several organizations presented their current research at the meeting: the SSRC-Transitions to College project, the Canada Millenium Scholarship Foundation, and the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC). In the next eight months, small teams of Pathways partners, collaborators, and research scholars will develop plans for research projects in six areas: (1) Transitions; (2) Transforming High Schools; (3) Linking Schools and Outreach Programs; (4) Family and Community Involvement; (5) Financial Aid/College Affordability; and (6) Improving Postsecondary Achievement.