Boundless Potential

The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative (PELI) is changing the future for Pinellas County’s youngest learners. Launched in partnership with the Pinellas Education Foundation, and Pinellas County Schools—PELI tackles early literacy gaps head-on by focusing on Pre-K through second-grade students.  

PELI targets a critical milestone: third grade reading proficiency. The program focuses on strengthening foundational literacy skills during the early years, prioritizing low-income and historically underrepresented students who face the greatest barriers to success.  

Operating in 18 Title I elementary schools and 16 community-based Pre-K providers, PELI equips educators with the tools they need to succeed, including professional development, classroom coaching, and collaborative “communities of practice” that focus on the science of reading and proven literacy strategies.  

Since launching in 2021, PELI has helped raise third grade reading proficiency rates from 50% to 67%—a remarkable achievement. The program's success contributed greatly to Pinellas County Schools earning an A rating—the first in the district’s history—for the 2023-2024 school year.  

By closing early literacy gaps, PELI is laying the foundation for long-term academic success. It’s not just about reading; it’s about opening doors to brighter futures for Pinellas County children and setting a new standard for educational excellence in the region. 

Leveraging the excitement of the 2024 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, the Read to the Final Four contest motivated more than 15,600 Arizona third graders from 242 schools statewide to boost their reading skills. Collectively, the students logged an impressive 20 million minutes of reading, with 62% of participating schools classified as Title I.   

The statewide competition concluded during the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four weekend, with Mary C. O’Brien Elementary School from Casa Grande, crowned champion in what was a repeat victory following their 2017 win when Arizona hosted its first NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament.   

Helios anchored this statewide literacy initiative with a $500,000 grant and made the celebration even more special by doubling the awards for top-performing schools. The winning school received $10,000 while $5,000 went to each runner-up to support literacy and library programs.   

In collaboration with the NCAA and the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee, Helios channeled the energy of college basketball into a powerful platform that encouraged Arizona’s third graders to raise their reading game. 

This year, Helios took a proactive role in shaping stronger early education policies to advance student success in Arizona and Florida. 

In Arizona, we collaborated with Read On Arizona and the Arizona Department of Education to highlight research-backed early literacy strategies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Budgetary Funding Formulas. By emphasizing proven approaches, Helios helped inform policy decisions that strengthen the foundation of early learning statewide. 

In Florida, Helios presented to the Florida House Education Quality Subcommittee on the urgent issue of chronic absence—a critical factor that undermines student achievement and long-term success.    

Additionally, Helios helped secure $3 million in state funding to expand access to dual enrollment courses in Arizona, following a reduction to a previously approved $15.5 million investment.    

Helios also served as a leading policy voice on chronic absence, elevating pressing educational challenges in 2024. One such gathering, the Florida Early Learning Exchange, drew inspiration from a successful 2023 convening in Arizona. This cross-state dialogue fostered an exchange of best practices and actionable solutions among key stakeholders, further uniting partners in a shared commitment to improving student learning experiences.   

By consistently placing credible research, practical strategies, and collaborative problem-solving at the center of policy discussions, Helios is inspiring dialogue, encouraging meaningful partnerships, and helping shape policies that put students first. Through these efforts, we reaffirm our belief that every student, regardless of their circumstances, deserves boundless opportunities to excel and thrive in their educational journey. 

Aliento is committed to ensuring every student, regardless of immigration status, has the opportunity to achieve their higher education dreams. To support this mission, Helios awarded the organization a $1.5 million, three-year grant to improve college access and success for students from mixed-status families in Arizona.   

One of Aliento’s key initiatives supported by this grant is the Arizona Future Fellowship, a youth leadership development program for high school and college students from mixed-status families. Fellows establish “Aliento Hubs” at their schools and participate in impactful events, such as Education Day at the state capitol and a summer youth summit.  

The grant also funds the Adelante Scholarship program, targeting students previously ineligible for in-state tuition due to their immigration status. Aliento, supported by Education Forward Arizona, provides Adelante Scholarship recipients up to $2,500 to pursue an associate’s degree or $5,000 for a bachelor’s degree, along with access to peer networking, coaching, and workshops.  

Additional efforts supported by this grant include training 3,000 high school and college practitioners annually to foster a college-going culture and ensure eligible students benefit from the new Proposition 308 in-state provisions.   

Through these initiatives, Helios and Aliento’s partnership is removing barriers so that all students can achieve their educational goals and contribute to Arizona’s future. 

Latinos comprise nearly half of Arizona’s K-12 student population but remain underrepresented among teachers, school administrators, and board members. ALL In Education is working to close this representation gap by developing Latino leaders who can advocate for and represent the needs of Latino students.   

With a $1.5 million grant from Helios, ALL In Education is expanding its leadership pipeline programs that serve parents, education professionals, and community leaders.    

A standout program is the nine-week Parent Educator Academy (PEA), that equips more than 200 parents and caregivers annually with leadership skills to navigate the education system and advocate for their children’s academic success. Other programs develop emerging leaders and support those who are ready to advance in their leadership journeys. To date, more than two dozen alumni have been elected or appointed to school boards, joined the boards of community organizations, or secured leadership roles in school districts.   

Together, Helios and ALL In Education are empowering Latino leaders to drive systemic change that improves academic outcomes for Latino students and prepares them for higher education opportunities. 

Chronic absence is on the rise in Central Florida, and a study from Helios and the Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED) highlighted the urgent need to address this growing challenge. The findings offer powerful insights that can inform real systems change to ensure all students have limitless opportunities to succeed.  

Using data from over 82,000 high school seniors in Orange and Osceola counties, the study reveals a 43% increase in chronic absence—students missing 10 or more days of school annually. Even more concerning, students with repeated chronic absences saw their college readiness plummet.   

By 2022, nearly 50% of these students were “not yet ready” for college-level work.  

This research also highlights a clear link between attendance and postsecondary success. Students with consistent attendance enrolled at the University of Central Florida at twice the rate of their chronically absent peers. While Black students and those receiving free or reduced lunch experienced the steepest increases, amplifying equity gaps.  

Our partnership with CFEED exemplifies how long-term collaboration can lead to meaningful action. By investing in CFEED, Helios has helped build a robust, data-driven system that shines a light on challenges like absence and provides the insights needed to transform education outcomes. 

This year, Helios took proactive steps to address the challenges created by the delayed rollout of the new FAFSA application.   

Recognizing that FAFSA is a critical gateway to financial aid and college access, Helios helped fund the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) #DoTheFAFSA campaign. The fully digital, national campaign focused on reaching 6.5 million low-income students of color, with an emphasis on Arizona and Florida, where FAFSA completion rates have been among the lowest in the nation.  

In Arizona, Helios is a member of the AZ FAFSA Coalition, which includes postsecondary institutions, state and city partners, and college access organizations from across the state. The Coalition hosted its inaugural AZ FAFSA Summit in August at the Helios Education Campus. The event convened stakeholders from K-12 education, higher education, and state agencies to analyze FAFSA data, set statewide completion goals, and develop a strategic plan to improve completion rates.  

In Florida, Helios partnered with the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) and the Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) to increase the state’s FAFSA completion rate. This partnership supported a state-specific communications campaign targeting five of Florida’s most underrepresented zip codes to raise awareness of the importance of the FAFSA and to connect families with local resources and events designed to simplify the process. These efforts included outreach to communities with historically low FAFSA completion rates, ensuring students and families received relevant and actionable guidance.  

Our investment in these initiatives reflects our commitment to removing barriers that limit postsecondary opportunities for underrepresented students. By increasing FAFSA completion rates, we are breaking down barriers and ensuring all students have access to the financial aid necessary to achieve a postsecondary education. 

Success rates also increase when students: 

• Take accelerated coursework in high school, such as dual enrollment or AP classes.
• Enroll full-time in college.
• Complete gateway math and English courses during their first year. 

At Helios, we believe that Florida’s state colleges are a vital pathway to equitable postsecondary access and success, and we are committed to supporting opportunities where all students, especially those facing the greatest barriers, succeed. By producing research that informs policy and practice, we are helping shape systems that lead students toward academic achievement, career success, and brighter futures. 

Only 23% of high-achieving, low-income high school students apply to selective colleges and universities despite their significantly higher graduation rates from these institutions.  

In Central Florida, Elevation Scholars is dedicated to working with these students to prepare them for acceptance into the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. With support from Helios, Elevation Scholars now operates in eight Title I high schools in Orange County, providing intensive, long-term support to help top-performing students succeed. 96% of Elevation Scholars students are first generation.   

In 2024, Elevation Scholars began the final year of its three-year expansion and growth partnership with Helios. Building upon its proven success, the program made significant strides in supporting 469 low-income, high-achieving students. To date, the program boasts a 100% college acceptance rate and a growing list of prestigious college partnerships.   

Looking ahead, Elevation Scholars aims to expand to nine high schools, increase college partnerships, and secure meaningful internships for 50% of its students. 

In 2022, St. Petersburg College (SPC) launched the Florida African American Male Experience (F.A.A.M.E.) program with support from Helios. F.A.A.M.E. addresses longstanding gaps in educational attainment by providing students in Pinellas County, Florida, with a clear, supported path from high school to college graduation and beyond. The program’s primary goal is to boost the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of students at SPC. This includes helping them earn an associate’s degree from SPC, transition to a four-year university, and successfully complete a bachelor’s degree.  

F.A.A.M.E. engages students early, offering college and career readiness through programs like Keys to Manhood, a seminar that builds confidence and preparedness, and summer bridge programs that equip students with critical skills for higher education. Once enrolled at SPC, F.A.A.M.E. scholars benefit from a robust support network, including mentorship, leadership development, academic resources, and financial assistance for scholarships, lab fees, and emergencies.  

These targeted supports address key barriers to success—financial challenges, academic gaps, and underrepresentation in higher education.  

In May 2024, SPC celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of F.A.A.M.E. scholars. These young men are proof of the program’s impact, thriving academically while building leadership skills and pursuing their dreams 

In November 2023, Helios hosted a convening in Tampa, Florida, bringing together education stakeholders from across the state to discuss strategies for advancing student success among Florida’s historically underrepresented communities. The conversation focused on ensuring all students, especially Black students, have access to the opportunities higher education provides. During this convening, Helios also previewed research on the value of college for Black Florida students, sparking meaningful dialogue about closing equity gaps and improving outcomes for Black learners statewide.  

Helios’ groundbreaking study, done in partnership with the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida, reveals the long-term financial benefits of higher education for Black students in Florida. The research also highlights the vital role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in boosting degree completion and career outcomes.  

The study found that Black students in Florida who enroll in a four-year college or university see a significant financial return on investment. Over 35 years, their net present value—the total financial gain from attending college—reaches $130,000. On average, these students earn $8,583 more annually than their peers who do not attend college and are far more likely to surpass the 50th percentile of earners in Florida.  

HBCUs, in particular, play a critical role in driving success. The study shows that Black students who attend HBCUs are 40% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree compared to those attending non-HBCU institutions.   

Additionally, Florida’s four HBCUs graduate more Black students in STEM disciplines than all other Florida universities combined, further underscoring their impact.