The Philadelphia Postsecondary Success Program (formerly Citi Postsecondary Success Program) is a five-year (2009–2013) collaborative project to increase the number of low-income and first-generation public high school students who enroll and succeed in postsecondary education. The Citi Foundation provided a five-year $5,150,000 grant to the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the Public Education Network (PEN) to launch the national Citi Postsecondary Success Program, working with three local education funds in Philadelphia, Miami, and San Francisco.
The Ed Fund serves as the local implementation partner and convenes partnerships of critical stakeholders in K-16 education, youth-serving community organizations, city government, and business and civic groups to develop a comprehensive approach to improving postsecondary education outcomes in the city. The Ed Fund received a $600,000 five-year matching grant for planning and implementation.
PPSP supports low-income and first-generation public high school students. Specifically, PPSP works with Benjamin Franklin High School, Roxborough High School, Kensington International Business/Finance & Entrepreneurial High School, and Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School through a broad-based partnership to develop a model college access and success system. Key work includes coordinating and aligning services that support college preparation, contributing to school-wide college readiness cultures, and involving student and parents in planning for college beginning in the ninth grade.