This three-year initiative will directly serve 9,682 BCPS high school students and indirectly benefit an additional 14,000 BCPS middle school students, with a focused effort to support youth from underserved communities. The program will expand access to accelerated coursework, deliver one-on-one college and career advising, provide ACT/SAT preparation and host Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops, college bootcamps and family engagement nights across 80 District schools.
“This investment is a game changer for our students, particularly those who have historically faced barriers to higher education,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “We are grateful to Helios Education Foundation for supporting our District’s vision for postsecondary success. Through this initiative, we are expanding access to advanced coursework and ensuring every student receives the mentorship, resources and support needed to thrive beyond high school.”
Impact Metrics
Expanding Access to Accelerated Learning: Through strategic outreach and partnerships with local colleges, the initiative will raise awareness of and increase enrollment in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), and Dual Enrollment programs district-wide for high school students.
Providing College and Career Readiness Support: Providing support districtwide to build the academic skills needed to perform well on the ACT and SAT, key components in college admissions, scholarship eligibility and eligibility for access to advanced college credit coursework.
Enhancing Personalized Advising and Mentoring: 11th and 12th grade students and families will receive one-on-one advising on college applications, financial aid (including FAFSA), scholarships, and career exploration.
Supporting Postsecondary Transitions: The initiative will guide high school seniors and their parents/guardians through the college entry process via college fairs, FAFSA workshops, application support, and sustained mentoring. Federal Student Aid has again granted unprecedented permission for Bridge2Life to participate in early access to the 2026/2027 FAFSA Beta 1 testing beginning in August 2026. By addressing both academic and socio-emotional barriers, the project will strengthen student readiness, foster a more inclusive college-going culture across the District, and use real-time data to continuously refine support and improve outcomes.
“At Helios, we know that postsecondary success doesn’t happen by chance, it requires intentional systems of support that meet students where they are and guide them every step of the way,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul J. Luna. “Through this partnership with Broward Education Foundation, Broward County Public Schools, and Bridge2Life, we are helping to expand access to accelerated learning, strengthen advising, and build a college-going culture that reaches every student. Together, we are not only opening doors to opportunity—we are helping students walk through them with confidence and a clear path forward.”
“Opportunities like this strengthen our alignment with national philanthropic leaders and reflect a shared commitment to transformational impact in education,” said James A. Knapp, President & CEO of Broward Education Foundation. “This partnership underscores the important role Broward Education Foundation plays in aligning philanthropic investment with BCPS priorities to expand opportunities for students. We are proud to work alongside Broward County Public Schools and Bridge2Life, and grateful to Helios Education Foundation for its continued partnership.”
About Broward Education Foundation
The nonprofit Broward Education Foundation aligns with Broward County Public Schools by providing grants for teachers who develop innovative curriculum that increases student outcomes; vitally needed school supplies for students and teachers in Title I schools; scholarships for qualified high school seniors; and support for programs and initiatives like Debate, TurnAround Arts, STEM and more. Each year, Broward Education Foundation contributes nearly $5 million to Broward County schools, serving as the catalyst for educational excellence. For information visit Broward Education Foundation, email BEFInfo@browardschools.com, like or follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Bridge2Life:
Bridge2Life, operating under the Broward Education Foundation, is dedicated to strengthening the local workforce pipeline by increasing the percentage of working-age adults in Broward County with a post-secondary degree or high-quality certificate to 65% by 2030. B2L provides students, who may have once seen college as unattainable, with the resources and support they need. In collaboration with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, industry partners, and out-of-school programs, B2L addresses the challenges of college affordability offering FAFSA and scholarship guidance, provides essential advising and mentoring services and career exploration and internships. For more information, visit Bridge2Life, email Bridge2LifeSFL@gmail.com, like or follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube.
About Broward County Public Schools
“Educating all students to reach their highest potential.”
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is a proud “A” rated District, serving as the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. As Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962, BCPS educates more than 236,600 students and approximately 125,000 adult learners across 239 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 86 charter schools. BCPS supports a diverse student population representing 174 different countries and speaking 157 languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on “X” @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, on Instagram @browardschoolsofficial, on YouTube at youtube.com/browardschoolsvideos and download the free BCPS mobile app at browardschools.com/MobileApp.
About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for all students, with a focus on low-income and historically underrepresented communities, in Arizona and Florida. For more than 20 years, and driven by its fundamental beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested more than $350 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving education outcomes in the two states we serve. Learn more at helios.org.