Removing Roadblocks to Rigor: Linking Academic and Social ...

Promising Policies and Practices
study of learning communities serving lowincome
students at community colleges found
that students participating in them were
significantly more engaged in the classroom
and with their classmates and faculty, confident
in their perceptions of the encouragement they
experienced on campus, and positive in their
estimation of their intellectual goals. 35
Embedding support strategies into institutional
structures can create environments and cultures
that provide multiple reinforcements to meet a
range of student needs. For example, students
in schools that offer Extended Learning Time may
find themselves simultaneously participating in
enrichment activities, receiving targeted academic
support, and forging meaningful connections
with adults and peers; each of these activities
is systemically embedded into their everyday
routine. It is also important to recognize that
support strategies to target a specific population
often represent beneficial services for all
students. Research shows that integrating
culturally-relevant practices in schools and
classrooms bolsters achievement for students
from all backgrounds. 36 For example, many
programs and schools have adopted the use of
Individualized Education Plans for all students,
a practice previously associated primarily with
special education services.
PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE NETWORK, INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY
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