Making Broken Systems Work: A Story About Repair and Innovation

About the Case Study

Making Broken Systems Work traces the roots and evolution of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI), which began in 2012 after 114 college-bound students were mistakenly denied admission to California state universities due to an administrative crediting error with a 10th grade Spanish course.

This case study tells the story of how CCGI emerged in response to widespread systemic breakdowns, shares lessons learned along the way, and offers a practical roadmap for individuals and organizations working to drive meaningful, systemic change.