The College and Career Readines and Success Center closed on September 30,2019 because the grant cycle for the U.S. Department of Education Comprehensive Centers ended. The information on this website will no longer be updated. Visit www.air.org for updates on college and career readiness.
Submitted by Andrew Valent on
This post is the second in a two-part series following the webinar, “Promising Practices and Considerations for Districts in Competency-Based Education”, where presenters are responding to questions submitted by participants.
This study evaluated if the knowledge and skills contained in the Common Core State Standards Initiative reflect what is important for college and careers. A national sample of instructors from 25 course categories in two- to four- year institutions were selected. Results suggested a positive correlation between proficiency in the Common Core State Standards and the extent of readiness students exhibit for a wide range of post-secondary courses.
This 4-year longitudinal study evaluates the experiences of high school graduates enrolled in tech prep programs in eight regions across the nation. The study reports on their demographics, college readiness risk indicators, vocational interests, and performance as a function of graduation requirements at their high schools. The researchers reported no differences between participants and non-participants of tech prep programs with regard to college enrollment rates and percentage of students completing a degree or certificate.
This report reviewed whether high school students are meeting the high school course requirements needed for admission to four-year public universities in California. Patterns of high school course-taking associated with preparation for college and entry into California community colleges and four-year California State University and University of California institutions are documented. It was determined that students who complete college preparatory courses starting in 9th grade are more likely to complete the CSU and UC course requirements.
This brief from Jobs for the Future outlines a model for engaging disconnected and at-risk youth through the development of aligned postsecondary pathways and academic supports. The brief presents an overview of the current attainment and skills gap and then outlines the Back on Track Through College model, including examples of successful implementation and policy recommendations that support implementation.
This paper focuses on strategies for creating postsecondary pathways for high school dropouts in order to close the skills gap as well as connect the talents of these youth to postsecondary skills and credentials. The paper argues that in order to improve educational and economical outcomes for high school dropouts, there must be alignment of secondary, postsecondary, workforce, and adult education systems and several actions must be taken.
In several states across the country, universities have agreed to freeze tuition rates in exchange for increased government funding. However, lawmakers warn that the extra funding will most likely not make up for cuts made during the recession. Julie Bell, director of the National Conference of State Legislatures, says that it is doubtful “that states will ever return to the high levels of contributions to higher education of a decade ago,"
Submitted by Austin Pate on
On June 14, the American Youth Policy Forum and MDRC co-hosted a Capitol Hill forum titled “College Match Matters.” The forum provided an overview of the College Match Program (CMP), a Chicago Public Schools program designed to encourage academically capable students to choose colleges where they are likely to thrive and graduate.
According to a report released on June 13 by the Lumina Foundation, though the percentage of adults ages 25-64 who hold a two- or four-year college degree has increased in recent years, the change has been incremental—increasing by less than one percent each year—and will result in the nation failing to reach the foundation’s goal of 60% degree attainment by 2025.
