Reach Higher

Reach Higher
Name	Reach Higher
Formation	2014
Founder	Barack Obama
Type	Initiative
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent organization	Office of the President
Motto	"It's Time to Reach Higher"

Reach Higher Reach Higher is a United States national initiative launched to promote postsecondary completion and workforce readiness through partnerships among K–12 systems, community college, four-year institutions, and private sector employers. Announced by Barack Obama in 2014, the initiative sought to increase the number of Americans with degrees, certificates, or career training by emphasizing counseling, college application assistance, and employer-aligned credentialing. Over its active years the initiative engaged federal agencies, philanthropic organizations, nonprofit groups, and corporations to scale programs at local, state, and national levels.

Background and Origins

Reach Higher originated from policy priorities set during the second term of Barack Obama, reflecting earlier domestic agendas such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act emphasis on workforce development. It built on models from initiatives like GEAR UP, Pell Grant reforms, and programs promoted by the U.S. Department of Education. The launch event gathered stakeholders from College Board, National Education Association, National Governors Association, and major philanthropy networks including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Lumina Foundation. Historical precedents cited by advocates included the expansion efforts of the G.I. Bill and the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Program Goals and Initiatives

Primary goals included increasing college completion, expanding access to apprenticeship pathways, and improving counseling and application support in partnership with organizations such as AmeriCorps and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Major initiatives encompassed college application campaigns targeting first-generation learners, partnership pilots with CUNY and California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, and employer-aligned credential programs in collaboration with IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft. The initiative promoted certificate programs affiliated with sectoral employers in industries like healthcare through partnerships with American Hospital Association and in advanced manufacturing through National Association of Manufacturers. Outreach leveraged networks including National College Access Network, United Negro College Fund, and Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Organizational Structure and Partnerships

Although initiated from the White House, the operational model relied on federated partnerships. Core partners included the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor, state higher education agencies, and private philanthropies such as the Kresge Foundation. Implementation was decentralized: local school districts worked with regional entities like Achieving the Dream and Complete College America while private firms provided technology and training through vendors including Coursera and EdX. Corporate partnerships also included workforce pipelines with Walmart, AT&T, and JPMorgan Chase. Advisory input came from academic organizations such as the American Council on Education and research bodies like the Brookings Institution.

Funding and Budget

Funding combined federal support, philanthropic grants, and corporate contributions rather than a single line-item appropriation. The initiative coordinated existing Pell Grant outreach, grant programs managed by the Department of Labor, and targeted investments from foundations such as Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Corporate partners provided in-kind technology, scholarship funds, and employer-sponsored apprenticeships; notable private investments included commitments from Google and Goldman Sachs. Budget oversight involved interagency coordination among Office of Management and Budget processes and reporting through participating agencies, while some pilot programs received state appropriation match funding from legislatures such as the California State Legislature.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations drew on metrics used by National Student Clearinghouse data, federal completion rates, and independent analyses from think tanks including Urban Institute and American Institutes for Research. Reported outcomes included increases in college application submissions in targeted school districts and higher enrollment in community college certificate programs aligned to employer needs. Local case studies documented by Community College Research Center showed improved advising and matriculation where partnerships with employers and nonprofits were strong. However, national assessments noted variability: success correlated with sustained funding, state policy environments such as tuition-setting by state higher education boards, and institutional capacity at community colleges and minority-serving institutions like Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques arose regarding prioritization of short-term certificates versus traditional degree attainment, drawing commentary from scholars at American Association of University Professors and Teachers College, Columbia University. Some advocates argued that emphasis on employer-aligned credentials advantaged large employers like Amazon and Walmart while insufficiently addressing systemic barriers highlighted by civil rights groups such as the NAACP and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Concerns were also raised about sustainability after changes in presidential administrations and the reliance on private funding streams critiqued by budget analysts at Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Data privacy and outcomes measurement prompted scrutiny from digital rights groups and researchers at Electronic Frontier Foundation and Pew Research Center.

Category:United States education initiatives