For many former foster care students like Kyshawna Johnson—young adults with few resources to navigate independence—housing instability is a major impediment to completing a college degree. Nationally, reports indicate that 20 to 40 percent of youth aging out of foster care lack stable housing. Housing-insecure students take fewer classes, earn fewer credits, and are more likely to leave college before graduating.

In California, a blueprint for change may be emerging.

Dual enrollment has long functioned as a “program of privilege." The system that allows students to knock out high school and college courses at once, at little-to-no cost, often favors white people, native English speakers, and those of a higher socioeconomic standing.

As participation in dual enrollment skyrockets, two researchers say it’s time for that to change. In their new report, John Fink and Davis Jenkins present a framework aimed at ensuring that all students can take advantage of such programs. The goal is to get more students on a college track early, saving them time and money en route to a degree.

To Syrita Steib, the University of New Orleans denied her first application for admission in what seemed like lightning speed. With equal speed, though, the university accepted her second application. The difference? This time, Steib didn’t disclose her criminal history.

Steib has since graduated from UNO and gone on to help other formerly incarcerated students by shaping and lobbying for legislation that bans questions about criminal history on admissions applications to public colleges and universities.