In Washington state, the leap from high school to postsecondary education or training is a significant hurdle for many students, especially those from low-income backgrounds and communities of color. Despite their aspirations, systemic gaps between K12 and higher education often stand in the way of success. Recognizing this challenge, the Gates Foundation’s Washington State Initiative (WSI) invested $4M to launch the Limitless Learning Network—a bold effort to reimagine how communities and systems work together to ensure more students thrive in their postsecondary transitions.
The Limitless Learning Network, launched in November 2023 and incubated by Education First, brings together 26 cross-sector partnerships of educators, district and higher education leaders, and community organizations like ESDs, libraries, and youth development groups. Each partnership represents the heart of this work—leaders and practitioners who are deeply connected to their communities and committed to tackling systemic barriers.
More than just a learning community, Limitless provides the funding and flexibility for these partnerships to test bold, equity-driven ideas and learn from one another. By centering relationships, knowledge-sharing, and co-design with students and families, the Network is building the capacity to address both the upstream and downstream factors that shape postsecondary outcomes.
Our new case study, “Limitless Possibilities: Leveraging Cross-Sector Partnerships to Design Equitable Postsecondary Transitions,” highlights the transformational power of this work and the lessons we’ve learned. Four major takeaways stand out:
Limitless is demonstrating the value of intentional, equity-centered collaboration in creating stronger pathways for students. As partnerships across Washington state build on these early successes, they offer a promising example of how communities and systems can come together to support students through their high school to postsecondary journeys.
