Together, we can create opportunity for all young adults to reconnect and thrive.

RAPSA’s mission is to improve the lives of at-promise students by providing professional development experiences for educators who work with the opportunity youth population.

The Reaching At-Promise Students Association (RAPSA) is a nonprofit organization focused on helping educators working with at-risk students. By identifying students as “at-promise,” the organization emphasizes the belief that despite obstacles, all students can succeed. Today, RAPSA is a leading professional development and networking organization for those working with the at-promise student population, and has a membership of hundreds of educators internationally, including teachers, administrators, counselors, coaches, volunteers, and community members.

Latest News

  • Meet the Member: Adonai Mack

    Meet the Member: Adonai Mack

    RAPSA is proud to spotlight Adonai Mack, Chief Executive Officer of Child Action and a respected leader in California’s education policy landscape, as a member of our Education and Leadership Advisory Table (ELAT). With nearly two decades of experience… Read The Article

  • Partner Spotlight: Portland Public Schools

    Partner Spotlight: Portland Public Schools

    Partner Spotlight: Portland Public Schools RAPSA is proud to highlight Portland Public Schools (PPS) as a valued partner in advancing opportunity, equity, and student success. As one of the largest PK-12 urban school districts in the Pacific Northwest, PPS… Read The Article

  • RAPSA Forum 2026: Save the Date

    RAPSA Forum 2026: Save the Date

    Save the Date: RAPSA Forum 2026 RAPSA is excited to announce the RAPSA Forum 2026, taking place November 4-6, 2026, in San Diego, California. The 2026 theme, “Voices for Change” will center on elevating, empowering, and partnering with young… Read The Article

  • Meet the Member: Dr. Jacquelyn Yvette Hodge Ollison

    Meet the Member: Dr. Jacquelyn Yvette Hodge Ollison

    Dr. Jacquelyn Yvette Hodge Ollison brings a powerful blend of lived experience research and systems level leadership to the Reaching At-Promise Students Association Education and Leadership Advisory Table. Her work centers educator wellbeing equity and collaboration as essential conditions… Read The Article

  • The Impact of RAPSA Membership in Supporting the Opportunity Youth Field and Empowering Students

    The Impact of RAPSA Membership in Supporting the Opportunity Youth Field and Empowering Students

    At-Promise and Opportunity Youth-young people navigating adverse life circumstances, disconnection from school, or involvement in justice or foster care systems-face immense structural barriers in accessing education, work, and long-term stability. While several national organizations advocate for these students, RAPSA… Read The Article

  • Youth Voices Are Rising Across Minnesota

    Youth Voices Are Rising Across Minnesota

    Students Are Speaking Up. Across Minnesota, students are carrying a weight no young person should have to bear. Fear now follows them from home to school, from classrooms to grocery stores, and into everyday routines that should feel safe.… Read The Article

  • Your Support Keeps HSRA Students Learning

    Your Support Keeps HSRA Students Learning

    Dear At Promise and Alternative Accountability Community: In a moment of extraordinary uncertainty for our Minnesota and Twin Cities communities, we are reminded of the profound challenges that many of our students and young people are facing daily. We… Read The Article

  • Meet the Member: Catalina Cifuentes

    Meet the Member: Catalina Cifuentes

    Catalina Cifuentes serves as the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness for the Riverside County Office of Education, where she helps lead countywide efforts focused on making sure students graduate from high school prepared for what comes next.… Read The Article

  • Meet the Member: Pamela Gibbs

    Meet the Member: Pamela Gibbs

    RAPSA is honored to welcome Pamela Gibbs to our Education and Leadership Advisory Table, bringing with her decades of legislative expertise, strategic leadership, and a steadfast commitment to advancing equitable education for California’s youth. As Executive Director of Governmental… Read The Article

  • The RAPSA Forum Award Winners

    The RAPSA Forum Award Winners

    The RAPSA Forum celebrates the individuals and students who embody the spirit of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to At-Promise youth. Each year, the Forum recognizes outstanding contributions through the Heart, Vision, Passion, and Courage Awards-honoring those who lead… Read The Article

  • Meet the Member: Dr. Jorge Ruiz de Velasco

    Meet the Member: Dr. Jorge Ruiz de Velasco

    RAPSA is thrilled to welcome Dr. Jorge Ruiz de Velasco to our Education and Leadership Advisory Table, bringing with him decades of groundbreaking research and leadership that have shaped the future of education policy for our nation’s most vulnerable… Read The Article

  • Meet the Member: Pagee Cheung

    Meet the Member: Pagee Cheung

    RAPSA is honored to welcome Pagee Cheung, a visionary leader redefining what it means to prepare students for college, career, and beyond. With nearly two decades of experience transforming education ecosystems, Pagee brings an unmatched blend of innovation, compassion,… Read The Article