A Look at NextUp Implementation in California: A Qualitative Research Study

NextUp seeks to provide support and services to students in California community colleges who have foster care history. The NextUp program began in 2014 and has grown over time. Most recently, the 2022–23 California budget expanded California’s investment in the program, allowing all but one of the 116 community colleges in the state to receive an allocation of funds. This resulted in 69 community colleges receiving NextUp funding for the first time in January 2023. Through a series of focus groups, surveys and interviews with NextUp staff and students, the Urban Institute conducted a study to examine NextUp implementation following the most recent round of funding. This study sought to better understand NextUp implementation, student experiences with NextUp and variation across NextUp programs