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Sustaining the work of the Limitless Learning Network

Large group of people in dark room assembling for the Limitless Learning Network

Only 50% of high school graduates in Washington state enroll in and complete postsecondary education—but 90% of the state’s students want to continue their education after high school. The Limitless Learning Network launched in Fall 2023 to support educators and system leaders across the state seeking a space to connect, share information and explore new solutions to increase the number of students successfully transitioning to post-secondary opportunities. Education First partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to incubate and launch the Limitless Learning Network with the intention to transition this role to a local partner. We are excited to celebrate the selection of the next Network Manager, Education Northwest, as they build upon the success and momentum since the program’s launch. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Education Northwest brings experience in postsecondary access and leading work in Washington state. Read more about the Limitless Learning Network on the Gates Foundation website.

The Limitless Learning Network has 26 local partnerships participating, representing 21 of Washington state’s 39 counties, and over one-quarter of all high school students in the state being reached through the Network. Watching the Network grow and evolve in its first eight months has been truly exciting. In that time, we have seen many cross-sector partnerships transform from well-intentioned colleagues with varied familiarity with each others’ roles, institutional goals and day-to-day work into teams working collaboratively to understand and rethink systems, policies, and mindsets to promote more regional collaboration and remove barriers that have historically excluded students from postsecondary learning opportunities. The Network has responded to emerging topics—for example, creating spaces to spotlight resources and strategies to respond to the Better FAFSA rollout—and has also launched a number of peer-led working groups to dive deeper into evidence-based solutions.

Limitless Learning Network with the state of Washington

What makes this network unique is its ability to bring teams of practitioners and leaders from different organizations and systems together that otherwise wouldn’t have a venue to work together on increasing post-secondary transitions. Along the way, the Network has lived into equitable design principles to center the expertise, lived experiences and learning approaches that best meet the needs of the communities. We approach each of the activities of the Network with a spirit of co-design—designing with and not for the Limitless community. As we prepare to onboard and transition network management over to Education Northwest, we are confident that Limitless will continue to evolve and sustain its impact because of the shared values cultivated so far. We are eager to see the impact that the Network realizes for Washington state’s students and families over the years ahead.

To learn more about the Limitless Learning Network and this transition, read the announcement on the Gates Foundation website.

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