Gateway to College serves youth, 16 to 20 years old, who have dropped out of high school or are on the verge of dropping out. The program gives students an opportunity to simultaneously accumulate high school and college credits, earning their high school diploma while progressing towards an associate degree or certificate. Gateway to College students are young people who did not fit well in a traditional high school setting, and are a diverse group facing many challenges. Some are English language learners, teen parents, former gang members, foster youth, or students who struggled with substance abuse. Many work full time and live on their own. Gateway to College was originally developed in 2000 at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and currently operates at 24 colleges in 14 states.

The Bridgespan Group recently published a case study of the process the National Network underwent in spinning off from Portland Community College. Spinning Out from a Parent Organization: Lessons Learned from One Newly-Independent Nonprofit is written as a guide for programs and umbrella organizations contemplating a similar move.

• Spinning Out from a Parent Organization: Lessons Learned from One Newly-Independent Nonprofit
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