A WORKING PAPER BY THE ACHIEVING THE DREAM CROSS-STATE DATA WORK GROUP ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS HOW STATES COLLABORATE AND USE DATA TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES Community Colleges Count Achieving the Dream

dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Evidence-based, student-centered, and built on the values of equity and excellence, Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) improving results at institutions, 2) influencing public policy, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, today, Achieving the Dream is the largest non-governmental reform movement for student success in higher education history. With 160 community colleges and institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 16 state policy teams—working throughout 30 states and the District of Columbia—Achieving the Dream helps 3.5 million communit