Data-Driven Impact: Evaluating the Success of Get2College's Mission
A Case Study
Executive Summary
Bloom Education Group partnered with The Woodward Hines Foundation to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their Get2College Sweet Magnolia College Tour.
Through rigorous, data-driven methods, Bloom Education Group provided clear evidence of the tour's effectiveness, significantly enhancing educators' knowledge, dispelling biases, and increasing their confidence in guiding students towards postsecondary success.
Client Background & Challenge
The Woodward Hines Foundation (WHEF) is a major and significant funder of education in Mississippi, with a particular focus on increasing postsecondary degrees and supporting low-income and minority students.
The Foundation operates the Get2College program as a cornerstone of Mississippi’s "Ascent to 55%" goal, which aims for 55% of adults to hold a postsecondary degree or credential.
Get2College organizes vital college tours for high school educators, and the Foundation required an independent, rigorous evaluation to quantify the impact of these tours on educators' knowledge, perceptions, and confidence in advising students.
They needed concrete evidence of the program's effectiveness to inform future strategy and demonstrate value to stakeholders.
Our Solution
Bloom Education Group, with Jessica Abram as the principal consultant, designed and implemented a robust mixed-methods evaluation of the Get2College Sweet Magnolia College Tour.
"We utilized pre-and post-tour surveys to capture quantitative shifts in educator metrics and conducted in-depth interviews for rich qualitative insights. Our approach, grounded in data-driven evaluation methodologies and deep expertise in educational program assessment, ensured a nuanced analysis that measured program impact and directly supported the broader "Ascent to 55%" initiative by empowering educators."
Jessica Abram
Bloom Education Group
Results & Impact
The evaluation, conducted by Bloom Education Group, unequivocally demonstrated the tours' success.
Educators exhibited statistically significant growth in all assessed areas, including a notable 63% improvement in respondents' familiarity with the academic programs and campus facilities following their visit.
Crucially, the tours actively challenged and dispelled educator biases, empowering them to provide more effective, unbiased counseling.
"As one educator reported, "Pretty much everything I thought about all of these schools was dispelled".
These results provide The Woodward Hines Foundation with concrete evidence of Get2College's efficacy in fostering a more informed and equitable college-going culture, directly contributing to statewide postsecondary attainment goals.
Key Takeaways
This engagement underscores Bloom Education Group's commitment to impact and mission alignment, providing clear, actionable insights that enhance program effectiveness.
Our evaluations offer partners like The Woodward Hines Foundation the data needed for informed decision-making and sustained program growth.