#United States #Sacramento #InsideTrack #California Reconnect #Education Northwest

California's Coaching Revolution: A Lifeline for Adult Learners

A groundbreaking evaluation released on July 23, 2025, highlights the impressive strides made by California Reconnect, an initiative spearheaded by InsideTrack, aimed at re-engaging adult learners throughout the state. The findings reveal that this innovative program has bolstered re-enrollment rates for individuals with some college experience but no degree, achieving an astounding sixfold increase compared to the national average. This initiative stands out particularly as numerous educational bodies grapple with declining first-year enrollment statistics.

As Ruth Bauer, the president of InsideTrack, aptly noted, returning to college isn't merely an academic decision; it requires significant resilience and commitment, especially for working adults balancing job responsibilities, family, and financial stressors. The evaluation underscores a vital message: with the right coaching and partnerships, barriers can be dismantled, leading to substantial opportunities for higher education. By investing in potential, we can create transformative changes that benefit not just individuals but their families as well.

Launched in 2023, California Reconnect has thus far reached over 14,000 learners. This effort resulted in a remarkable 13% re-enrollment rate among the initial cohort, dramatically outpacing the national rate of 2.1% reported by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Among those who re-enrolled, a significant 44% continued into the next academic term, with four-year institutions showing encouragingly higher retention rates. Driving this success is a personalized coaching methodology that centers on rebuilding students' confidence, addressing specific barriers to re-enrollment, and crafting actionable plans to help learners not only return to school but remain enrolled.

In California, over five million individuals below 65 years of age possess some college credit but have not completed their degrees. California Reconnect aims to increase the number of residents earning valuable degrees and credentials through a multi-faceted approach. This includes tailored coaching, data-driven insights, and strategic modifications to campus policies that help dismantle obstacles that impede adult learners from re-enrolling and completing their degrees or certificates.

The personalized, one-on-one support provided by coaches fosters trust, empowering students to identify barriers, outline goals, and take the necessary steps toward re-enrollment and persistence in their studies. Coaches are also instrumental in assisting students to secure reduced fees, facilitate the release of transcripts, access wrap-around services, and acknowledge prior learning. Furthermore, the initiative convenes implementation teams across its 13 partner institutions, working collaboratively to streamline processes and eliminate hurdles to re-enrollment and degree completion.

Collaborating with the Institute for Higher Education Policy, California Reconnect is focused on addressing critical attainment gaps among adult learners with some college credits. Over the past year, both organizations have been diligently constructing the necessary framework to support individuals who have left college, guiding them back toward re-enrollment and academic success while influencing institutional policies that promote degree completion and improved career prospects.

The evaluation report presents vital recommendations for institutions and policymakers to bolster student success. These recommendations include simplifying the re-enrollment process—by eliminating superfluous paperwork and fees—and enhancing access to personalized coaching and peer mentorship programs. Expanding flexible course options and providing comprehensive support services will further cater to the diverse needs of students, while building a statewide data infrastructure will aid in tracking completion rates and fine-tuning evaluation efforts.

Leanne Davis, Managing Researcher at Education Northwest, emphasized that this straightforward model is profoundly underutilized in higher education. It advocates for restructuring educational systems to better align with student needs rather than requiring students to navigate systemic hurdles alone. This scalable approach offers insights that can assist institutions nationwide in reconnecting with the millions of adults who previously left college before achieving credential completion.

As California Reconnect enters its final pilot phase in 2026, the focus will shift to extending support to additional institutions, refining implementation strategies, and enhancing data systems to track credential completion. The report highlights the urgent need for collaboration among colleges, funders, and state leaders to effectively serve California's 5.6 million adult residents with some college experience but no degree.

For more details, you can read the full evaluation report and learn more about California Reconnect here.

About InsideTrack

InsideTrack is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to promoting positive change by empowering learners in realizing their educational and career aspirations through the transformative potential of coaching. With a history of serving over 3.5 million learners since its inception, InsideTrack partners with over 380 institutions and organizations to actively enhance retention, completion, and career advancement.

About Education Northwest

Founded in 1966, Education Northwest is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization devoted to supporting all learners in reaching their fullest potential through collaboration with various public, private, and community-based organizations across the United States.

About the Institute for Higher Education Policy

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is a nonpartisan nonprofit aimed at fostering a more just and equitable society through higher education. Their work encompasses research, advocacy, policy development, and engaging with the community to drive systemic reform and promote equitable educational outcomes.