The Florida Student Success Playbook is a collaborative effort between Helios Education Foundation and LEVEL UP, driven by a shared mission to expand postsecondary access, improve student outcomes, and remove systemic barriers to success for Black students in Florida.
About the Florida Student Success Playbook
A playbook designed for Florida stakeholders who are ready to take action and remove barriers to Black student success in higher education.
This playbook provides policymakers, educators, business leaders, community advocates, and families with the tools and research-backed strategies needed to support Black students on their journey to and through higher education.
Helios Education Foundation brings its deep commitment to student success, research expertise, and focus on increasing college enrollment and attainment, while LEVEL UP provides a strong advocacy platform and actionable policy framework to drive change at every level. Together, we are equipping Florida’s stakeholders with R.E.A.L. Actions—focused on Real Transparency, Ensured Success, Academic and Social Supports, and Learner-Centered Teaching—to ensure that all students, especially those who have been historically underserved, have equitable opportunities to thrive.
This playbook is more than a resource—it is a call to action for institutions, policymakers, and communities to uphold policies and practices that reinforce the value of higher education and dismantle barriers that prevent students from reaching their full potential.
LEVEL UP is managed by HCM Strategists.
The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of any of the organizations referenced here, their officers, or their employees.
HCM Strategists, founded in 2008, is an impact-driven consulting firm that believes in the transformative power of postsecondary education and career-competitive learning to improve social and economic mobility. We work with clients and partners to influence the national narrative, evidence base, policy environment and conditions for institutional transformation, particularly for learners and communities that have been marginalized or historically underserved.
About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for all students, especially low-income and underrepresented communities in Arizona and Florida. Driven by our fundamental beliefs of Community, Equity, Investment, and Partnership, Helios has invested more than $350 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving education outcomes in the two states we serve. We take a multi-pronged approach—working across four domains, including performance-based community investments, systemic public policy efforts, research and data, and impact-driven communications—that together support the significant changes required to foster equitable progress across the education continuum.
Methods Summary for Helios Playbook
The Helios playbook focuses on addressing both enrollment and attainment gaps in addition to improving the postsecondary value proposition for Black students through research-based practices and policies. Based on these strategies, the playbook offers recommendations and examples of implementation in Florida. These recommendations and Florida-specific practices were primarily informed by:
- The National LEVEL UP playbook
- A systematic review of existing programs and policies within Florida
- Interviews with Florida stakeholders
1. Research-based practices and policies derived from the National LEVEL UP Playbook:
An Expert Advisory Committee informed this work from its earliest research phase to provide real-world context to the policy and institutional recommendations that inform the LEVEL UP and Get REAL movement. Each member of the Expert Advisory Committee is a nationally recognized higher education expert with a deep understanding of and support for the focus on declining Black student enrollment. They also have a demonstrated track record in translating research to policy, systems change, and institutional practice improvements for Black learners.
Emerging from the committee’s research and expertise were four core commitment areas that stakeholders must uphold to enhance Black student success.To address opportunity gaps, promote the success of Black learners, and reaffirm the value of higher education for these learners the acronym REAL was created:
R – Real Transparency and True Affordability
E – Ensured Success through Shared Ownership
A – Academic and Social Supports that Create a Sense of Belonging
L – Learner-Centered Teaching Practices for Black Learners
A systematic review identified research-based strategies to address each of the REAL areas, along with an analysis of existing gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the existing landscape. This analysis informed the recommendations outlined in the playbook. When adapting the national playbook strategies for Florida, applicable recommendations were selected based on the unique context of the state and tailored for each key stakeholder audience. These stakeholders include PreK-12 Schools and Higher Education Institutions, Community Members, and Policymakers.
2. A systematic review of existing programs and policies within Florida and comparable states:
A systematic review was conducted of programs and policies in Florida that implement the recommendations outlined in the Florida playbook, showcasing examples of “REAL action” within the state. The review focused on policies and practices specifically targeting Black students or demonstrating proven outcomes for this demographic.
The review also involved analyzing institutional and organizational websites, Florida state statutes and policies, and two higher education systems in the state to identify Florida-specific strategies. Additionally, the review incorporated state examples from the national playbook and examined initiatives from other states aimed at supporting Black student success and improving overall outcomes, as highlighted in the REAL framework.
Additional Steps in the Review Process:
- Data Collection: Collected quantitative and qualitative data from various sources, including academic studies, policy reports, and program evaluations related to Black student outcomes.
- Comparative Analysis: Analyzed Florida’s policies and programs in comparison to those from states that have achieved significant improvements in Black student outcomes. This step focused on identifying best practices and lessons learned.
Recommendations: Formulated actionable recommendations based on the review findings. The primary objective was to enhance existing policies and introduce new initiatives that align with the REAL framework.
3. Interviews with Florida stakeholders
Key stakeholders, including students, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, were identified for interviews to guide the development of the playbook. These interviews aimed to identify gaps and challenges within Florida’s educational landscape while providing a deeper understanding of the context affecting Black students. Additionally, they highlighted existing programs and practices that effectively support Black learners, as well as strategies that stakeholders wish to implement or advocate.
Interviewees included representatives from:
The Crockett Foundation
Florida Memorial University
Florida PTA
Impact Florida
University of South Florida
Key Interview Areas:
- Identified Gaps: Stakeholders identified specific areas where support for Black students is lacking, with a particular emphasis on access to resources and mentorship opportunities.
- Successful Programs: Participants discussed existing programs and initiatives that have demonstrated positive outcomes and significant promise. This exercise provided valuable insights into best practices.
- Desired Strategies: Stakeholders articulated strategies they believe should be prioritized to enhance support for Black students, emphasizing the necessity for collaborative efforts across various sectors.
This qualitative data collection process played a crucial role in shaping the recommendations within the playbook, ensuring it fully reflects the voices and experiences of Black students and those directly involved in their education in Florida.