Why college readiness isn't enough with KIPP Foundation's Shavar Jeffries. By Jim McCann At the iConnections Global Conference, Shavar Jeffries, CEO of the KIPP Foundation, joins Jim McCann of Worth to discuss the future of public education - and what it truly takes to create opportunity at scale. The conversation explores education as a lever for economic mobility, the importance of long-term investment in students, and why systemic change requires both public commitment and private support.

KIPP DuBois seniors earn college credits through Howard University dual-enrollment program. By6abc Digital Staff A group of seniors at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy is finishing high school while beginning their college careers, thanks to a dual-enrollment partnership with Howard University that is reshaping access to higher education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The program allows eligible students to take Howard University courses online while still enrolled in high school, giving them a direct pipeline to an HBCU experience and the opportunity to earn college credits before graduation. "It's inspired me to get ready for the rigorous work that colleges to hold, because high school is very different than college," senior Tysean White said. Senior Karmella Grant said the experience has helped her envision the next step in her education. "I think it's really cool because we get to step into, like, how college is going to be, in a way. Even though it's online, I feel like I'm still getting that experience. And it's like, it's Howard." Tysean and Karmella are among a cohort of KIPP DuBois students now entering their second semester of dual enrollment. School leaders in Parkside say the program has helped boost graduation rates and expand students' understanding of what is possible after high school, particularly when it comes to attending an HBCU.