The COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted the school year — it also cut off access to resources that help students, particularly students from low-income families, stay on track. With young people and their families facing so much uncertainty about the future, the Education program’s work has taken on even greater importance. By putting students’ needs first and broadening educational opportunities for young people, whether through a college degree or career and technical training, Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses on giving more students a chance to pursue their dreams.

“For far too long, zip code and skin color have determined a child’s education. That is wrong – tragically wrong. And I believe fixing it must be a top priority for our country.”
Mike Bloomberg

CollegePoint

CollegePoint provides virtual college advising to help students successfully transition from high school to college. Every year, tens of thousands of talented students from low- and middle-income families do not apply to leading colleges or universities that they are qualified to attend. The reason: Students often lack access to the right information and guidance to navigate what can be a complex application process. CollegePoint, with the expertise of partners including the College Board and ACT, helps students apply to and enroll in top schools. It especially benefits first-generation students who sign up for the program in their junior year.

More than 70,000 students advised by CollegePoint since 2014

CollegePoint advisors reach students through phone, text, and email and assist them throughout the end of their junior and senior years as they complete applications for both admission and financial aid. So far, CollegePoint has provided virtual college advising to over 70,000 students — free of cost.

American Talent Initiative

The mission of the American Talent Initiative became even more urgent as students, families, and institutions alike navigated both an unprecedented school year and the economic pressures of the pandemic. The initiative is a coalition of top colleges and universities working together to expand college access and opportunity. Its goal is to recruit, enroll, and graduate 50,000 additional talented students from lower-income families by 2025. This effort is a Bloomberg Philanthropies–supported collaboration between the Aspen Institute and Ithaka S+R.

130+  colleges and universities working together to expand access to their institutions

To date, over 130 colleges and universities — including state flagship universities, small liberal arts colleges, and the entire Ivy League — have joined the American Talent Initiative. A 2020 report shows that participating colleges have increased enrollment of students who receive Federal Pell Grants by more than 12,000 since 2016.

COVID-19 is having seismic and lasting impacts on K–12 education. Millions of students across the United States are learning in remote or hybrid environments, with many families facing ongoing financial hardship and child care challenges. In many cases, this only exacerbates existing disparities.

Mike Bloomberg has a long history of supporting education reform throughout the United States. He personally backs proreform public officials who work to enact meaningful policy changes that ensure accountability and high standards in schools. This work is grounded in the belief that the solutions required to improve education need broad coalitions that put students’ interests first.

To measure progress, this effort focuses on increasing high school graduation and college enrollment rates as well as improving academic achievement. The work has been focused in states like Tennessee and Louisiana, cities like Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis, Indiana, and other communities across the country.

During this unprecedented time, Mike’s support has helped launch a COVID-19 re-entry planning tool for districts to help guide school reopening; supported 50 virtual conversations with 2,200 participants from educational organizations across the country covering student needs, federal stimulus, and state budget decisions; and launched a free, virtual summer camp for 42,000 families nationwide, called Camp Kinda, which morphed into a daily guide full of resources to support weary parents in fall 2020.

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in efforts across the country to improve skills- and jobs-based training in high schools. By participating in innovative apprenticeship programs and industry-specific skills training in high school, students are gaining greater access to middle- and highskilled 21st-century jobs. Central to this approach are partnerships among local industries, schools, and postsecondary institutions, which create opportunities for students to develop skills that will lead to careers with many opportunities. These promising models are backed by strong local leadership and support from a variety of industries, leading the way for other cities to adopt proven strategies.

For example, through locally led programs in Colorado and New Orleans, hundreds of students have completed internships or apprenticeships in fields such as insurance, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, programs in Baltimore and Delaware work with local employers to train high school students and assist recent graduates in gaining skills and credentials for jobs, including in computer coding and medical office and research work.

Top photo: Harvard freshman, and CollegePoint alumna, Penelope Alegria catches up on her work on the lawn in Harvard Yard.