CPNN: Every Dollar, Nearly Four Times Back

What happens when California communities commit to change together?

Since 2016, the California Promise Neighborhood Network (CPNN) has brought together six federally funded Promise Neighborhood grantees across the state, using a cradle-to-career approach to break down systemic barriers in education, health care, and economic stability. In 2024, RTI International set out to measure what this work has actually delivered — and the findings tell a story worth reading in full.

Students are thriving. Kindergarten readiness is climbing. Attendance is rebounding faster than the state average, with the chronic absence gap nearly cut in half since 2021–22. PN high schools are outpacing comparison schools in graduation gains across three different time periods — powered by student success coaching, mental health services, and credit recovery.

Partnerships are transforming. Organizations that once worked in silos are now sharing data, aligning practices, and building a web of services so families don't fall through the cracks. The report details five specific shifts in how partners show up for children and families.

Systems are changing for good. Districts, cities, and counties are picking up the tab to sustain PN positions and programs. Citywide initiatives are scaling the approach beyond original neighborhoods. Parents and residents are bringing their voices — and their influence — to city halls and legislative offices.

The economic case is remarkable. Every $1 invested in CPNN returns $3.97 to society. That's $16.6 million in annual returns on roughly $4.2 million invested — with $9.3 million going to participants through higher earnings and health coverage, and $5.6 million saved by California taxpayers.

There's much more in the full brief — the methodology, the community voices, and the evidence behind every finding.