About Us:

Our National Impact

To reach a future where all students have access to college, educational leaders need to think bigger and forge new solutions. But we don’t have to work in isolation. In 2007, Steppingstone convened a meeting of 25 programs to explore a partnership that would support college access and college readiness on a national scale. Today, members across the country benefit from this partnership—and collectively serve hundreds of thousands of students nationwide.
A Scholar in a white Steppingstone teacher looks left with a smile on her face.
Two scholars share a computer, completing Steppingstone homework together.

National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)

NPEA is a membership organization that connects the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to educational access and college and career success for underserved students. 

Working together, our members make it possible for all students to access high-quality learning opportunities and to thrive at every phase of their unique educational journeys.

Visit the NPEA site.
“NPEA has offered us an unparalleled opportunity to connect with colleagues around the country who are committed to cultivating the dreams of young people.”
— Jay Davis, Program Officer for School Outreach
Director, First Year Student Enrichment Program, Dartmouth College

Values

NPEA members are united in their commitment to the following core values which define how we approach educational access and success, frame how we collectively serve underrepresented students, and are critical to our success in strengthening the path to and through college and beyond.
  • Student success is at the core of our partnerships
  • Promoting educational equity is a moral imperative
  • Our community of educators reaches students across the entire educational journey
  • We strive to be a diverse and inclusive community
  • We focus on measurable outcomes

Member Benefits

NPEA members benefit from a range of professional development opportunities and participate in a learning community of peers working to increase access to educational opportunities for underserved students.

Members enjoy:
  • Reduced registration rates for NPEA’s annual national conference
  • Monthly professional development webinars on a variety of topics
  • Access to MyNPEA, an online member-only community
  • Monthly e-newsletters with current resources, job postings, member updates, and more
  • Research briefs on education topics
  • Responses to member information requests
  • Discounted SAT and ACT test prep services through The Princeton Review for students
  • Discounted GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT test prep services through The Princeton Review for students, alumni, and staff
Learn more about NPEA member benefits.

Annual Conference

Each year, more than 300 attendees come together to learn from one another and from industry experts. The small group format of conference workshops encourages a high level of participation and exchange of ideas, as well as ample opportunity for networking. Attendees report gaining substantive information to share with their respective organizations in addition to valuable contacts with whom to compare successes and challenges.
Learn about our Annual Conference
Conference speaker passionately raises arms while presenting to audience members.
“The consensus is the NPEA Conference is now the gold standard. The focused mission of NPEA, combined with the myriad issues and the creative, progressive membership, make for the right recipe for a great conference.”
— Colin Lord, Senior Associate Director and Director of Multicultural Recruitment
Choate Rosemary Hall

Join NPEA Today

Become a Member
A group of Scholars sat atop a jungle gym flash smiles at the camera to their left.
617-423-6300