Local College Access Networks

Local College & Career Access Networks (LCANs) aim to increase college attainment using a framework known as Collective Impact. The Bureau of Iowa College Aid provides grant money to fund an LCAN Coordinator, travel, training, and other costs associated with creating the network and carrying out LCAN initiatives. 

Excellence in Postsecondary Readiness Grant  

On July 1, 2026, Iowa College Aid (ICA), out of the Iowa Department of Education, invited eighteen school districts to apply for the inaugural Excellence in Postsecondary Readiness Grant.  

Eligibility to apply for this grant was based on a free/reduced price lunch rate greater than or equal to the statewide average and demonstrated excellence in postsecondary readiness, as evidenced by scores on the following metrics on the Iowa School Performance Profiles:  

 Postsecondary Readiness Index: College Credit   

Postsecondary Readiness Index: Work-Based Learning  

After an application and grant review process, six awards in the amount of $50,000 have been committed to the following applicants, with the intent of elevating their achievements, identifying promising college and career attainment practices, and supporting the scaling of these practices:

• Creston Community School District
• Fort Madison Community School District
• Hampton-Dumont Community School District
• Howard-Winneshiek Community School District
• Storm Lake Community School District
• West Liberty Community School District

The six awarded school districts are tasked with the following:

1. Expanding and increasing the efficacy of at least one of the following priority areas:

• Work-Based Learning
• Senior Year Plus Programs
• Industry Recognized Credentials
• College Credit Attainment
• Individual Career and Academic Planning
• Middle School Career Development
• Expansion of any of the above for low-income, ELL and IEP students 

2. Demonstrating effective implementation of district-wide participation and engagement in the DCAP process and sharing best practices with other districts.
3. Working closely with the Department to plan and lead one training on the identified exemplary practices and outcomes to serve as a resource for other districts. 

Awardees will participate in the Iowa Department of Education’s Course to College & Career program, which provides support and resources to help schools cultivate a college and career-going culture.

Since the first LCANs were formed in 2015, more than $4 million has been invested in 23 communities in Iowa to increase college and career attainment.

Each LCAN assesses the assets and needs of its community and works to fill the gaps in partnership with local colleges, school districts, area education agencies, business groups, elected officials, employers and community, and religious organizations. LCANs identify multiple community goals that focus on increasing college attainment.

Iowa LCANs

LCAN Grant Series

Iowa College Aid offers a four-year series of grants to continuing Local College & Career Access Networks using the Collective Impact framework. The LCAN grant series is intended as seed funding for locally driven collaborative measures. Sustainability of LCANs and their initiatives is emphasized and addressed throughout the grant series.  

For more information on Collective Impact or the LCAN Grant series, contact Anne Thomas or Megan Sibbel.

Key Partners

The Iowa Department of Education's Bureau of Iowa College Aid works with communities across the state to address workforce needs and increase educational attainment through the Local College & Career Access Network (LCAN) grant series. Iowa College Aid provides consultation and funding to select Iowa networks, using the Collective Impact framework to increase college attainment at the local and statewide level.

Resources