What is the Tri‐County Cradle‐to‐Career Collaborative (TCCC)?
The Tri‐County Cradle‐to‐Career Collaborative is a community‐wide effort focused on dramatically improving the quality of life of our citizens through education. Unlike hundreds of existing, stand alone programs in our community now working independently to improve education, TCCC brings education and community leaders together to create coordinated community action that promotes success for every student.  In creating a shared vision and aligning our efforts and resources around five goals, we are committed to making sure that in the Tri‐county:

1. Every child will be prepared for school

2. Every child will be supported in and out of school

3. Every child will succeed academically

4. Every child will graduate from high school prepared for either further education
or employment in the modern workforce

5. Every student enrolled in post‐secondary education will complete successfully and will enter a career

How is TCCC going to be different from other initiatives?
TCCC is different from other educational reform efforts in that its mission is to make the most of the efforts already in play–not replace them with new initiatives. TCCC works to  break down the barriers so our Collaborative which includes – schools, teachers, parents, students, not‐for‐ profits, government, community, foundations and businesses can work more effectively together to improve education outcomes. The results of our collective efforts will provide broad and sustainable improvements for our students and taxpayers. TCCC will identify existing organizations to coordinate the efforts around each of the five goals. These action teams will collectively use data to identify effective practices that will improve existing programs and create plans to bring those practices forward for all students. TCCC is also unique because it encompasses an entire region – including all 4 school districts.

How did TCCC get started?
Beginning in the fall of 2011, a broad cross‐section of community stakeholders led by Anita Zucker, Chair and CEO of The InterTech Group, met to discuss education and workforce development in the Trident Region. The group reached a consensus: our community was lacking a coordinated approach to education, and it would make a very substantive difference if we could make it happen. TCCC acknowledges that, while our schools have primary accountability for our children’s education, the broader community is also accountable for supporting this work. The Collaborative agreed that we can effectively improve educational outcomes by aligning around shared goals and focusing our community on what actually works. 

Can this work? 
TCCC is based on the promising STRIVE model that began in 2006 in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In its most recent report, STRIVE Cincinnati reported that 89% of the 34 measures it is using to track student achievement are trending in the right direction. In 2012, the STRIVE model spread to communities in 35 states. We are working to adapt the STRIVE cradle‐to‐career framework to reflect our region’s local needs and goals. 

What is the first step in launching TCCC? 
The first step, which is underway, is creating an infrastructure that aligns community stakeholders around shared goals supporting the success of every child, from cradle to career. At the same time, we are also working to collect data around baseline community level outcomes, which will be shared with the community annually in a report. 

How will the community be engaged? 
The success of TCCC depends on community support and involvement. We will actively work to inform the community and seek feedback through authentic community conversations. In addition, TCCC Conveners will reach out purposefully and strategically to engage parents, students, teachers, community members, and community‐based organizations in our mission to Align, support and facilitate disciplined community‐wide collaboration throughout the cradle‐to‐career continuum to improve educational outcomes.

How will parents be involved? What kind of commitment are you asking of them? 
It’s crucial that we have parental involvement if TCCC is going to succeed. We need engagement at every level. Our Conveners will develop engagement strategies to listen to parents and assist parents in understanding how they can help ensure improved academic achievement for their kids and for all our schoolchildren. 

Is TCCC a 501c3?
TCCC is a registered not‐for‐profit organization in South Carolina. Over the next three years, while TCCC stands up its organization and goes through the process of applying for a 501c3 status, the College of Charleston is serving as the host organization.

How can I be involved?
You can help us get the community moving in the same direction by sharing information about TCCC, and encouraging those involved in education, children and workforce development to support it.

CLICK HERE TO GET INVOLVED