The NAPCA Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational corporation, which provides strategic leadership, administrative and educational support, and fiscal sponsorship for a consortium of three institutions working together with a similar purpose, mission and vision.

Here is a list of some of the administrative services we offer to each organization: Program Design and Development, Program Assessment & Evaluation, Risk management, human and financial resources, payroll and accounting, information technology – website and graphic design services, marketing, organizational capacity building, and other services.

The Foundation is led by a Board of Directors, which includes leaders in business, law, medicine, psychology, counseling, and education. The Board of Directors are assisted by an International Board of Advisors, comprised of leaders in communities across the world, who provide advice, guidance, and resources. Grants from corporations, private foundations and individuals committed to our purpose driven mission support the NAPCA Foundation. Furthermore, the Board of Directors is committed to building NAPCA’s stature as one of the world’s preeminent nonprofit organizations dedicated exclusively to increasing 21st century students’ preparation to enter and complete a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to enter careers that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.

Committed to Closing the College and Career Aspirations – Attainment Gap

NAPCA serves all students in communities across the nation. NAPCA is committed to reaching and placing all students on track to breakthrough the academic and non-academic barriers to enter and complete some form of postsecondary education.

NAPCA Foundation programs are funded through grants, sponsorships, individual donations, membership dues, and program fees. Membership dues for each member are $10 per year, however, eligible students and families experiencing a financial hardship can request to have their annual membership dues waived.

Over the past decades, college enrollment rates have increased. However, research shows that there is a small percentage of low-income students that enroll in college, and of those who enter college, only 13% graduate from college by age 24 with a Bachelor’s Degree within six years (Pell Institute, 2019).

The National Association of College Admissions Counseling estimates that due to the high student to counselor ratio, students in public schools can expect less than an hour of postsecondary education counseling during the entire school year. Additionally, the National Center for Educational Statistics has found that the national student-to-guidance counselor ratio is 488:1, where the average student spends 20 minutes per year talking to his or her counselor. The ratio of students per counselor in California averages 945:1, ranking California last in the nation (California Department of Education, 2011). High caseloads depreciate the effectiveness of school counselors as they lack the time to provide college advising services to all students (McDonough, 2007). In addition, research shows that in some high schools, particularly in urban schools, school counselors have caseloads of 1000 students or more. Furthermore, 29 percent of California public school districts have no counseling programs at all (California Department of Education, 2011). Where school counseling programs exist, school counselors are often asked to add administrative duties to their list of responsibilities, such as: testing, supervising, and class scheduling, which severely constrain counselors’ time to offer college counseling services that serve students equitably.

The College Completion Crisis

The percentage of high school graduates enrolling in college is increasing for all racial and income groups (NASH & Education Trust, 2009); however, these gains in college access rates are not being matched by gains in college success rates. Only 35% of America’s college students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years and just over half (52%) graduate within six years (College Board, 2009; 2014). In addition, only 13% of American students who are considered low-income graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree by the age of 24 (Pell Institute, 2019).

For students who attend college part-time, the completion rate is even lower: Less than 25% graduate within eight years (Complete College America, 2011). In today’s unforgiving labor market, college students must complete in order to compete; if they withdraw from college without completing a workforce relevant certificate, credential or degree, their prospects for finding gainful employment will be seriously jeopardized (Collins, 2009; Carnevale, 2014). Moreover, among those students who withdraw from college, 3 out of 10 leave with loan debt (Johnson et al., 2009). Thus, students who do not complete college pay a double penalty: They incur immediate debt and, at the same time, they forfeit subsequent income (and other benefits) associated with attainment of a postsecondary credential.

Graduation from high school became a national expectation following World War II. Today, the expectation is that all young people should continue their formal education after high school in order to compete in today’s workforce. Our “knowledge-based economy” now requires 7 out of every 10 jobs to be filled by someone who has completed at least some type of post secondary education (Carnevale, 2014). Low-income students who never attend or graduate from college will have a hard road ahead. They are twice as likely to be unemployed. They will earn half as much as college graduates. They are more likely to end up in poverty. America’s future rests on our ability to develop the talent of all students regardless of their background.

Research shows that 9 out 10 students in low-income communities report they want to go to college to prepare to achieve their career aspirations. However, by the time they reach their senior year in high school, only a small fraction of students enroll in college, and of those who do start, only 13% graduate from college by age 24 with a Bachelor’s degree within six years (Pell Institute, 2019). Therefore, the college and career aspirations – attainment gap is 87%.  If we do not work to close the gap, millions of students across the nation will be twice as likely to be unemployed, dependent on public assistance programs, and living in poverty. 

College and Career Aspirations – Attainment Gap: The distance between a student’s stated college and career aspirations and the realization of completing a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to be prepared to enter high skilled careers or trades.