The District Role in Supporting College and Career Readiness for Students

As school systems across the country recommit themselves to ensuring college and career readiness and success, they must rely on districts to translate federal and state policies into the local context. This brief builds upon recommendations from a 2009 Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide that describes evidence-based practices that promote postsecondary access for high school students. While the IES recommendations are relevant for schools, this brief points to the important role that districts play in ensuring schools have the resources to provide students access to a coherent set of activities that support their college and career goals. This brief focuses on three large school districts that have initiated district-wide, systemic approaches to college and career readiness and success. The snapshots provide examples of opportunities to scale up the practices recommended in the IES Practice Guide.

Keywords
Policy: District
Transition: High School to Career
Transition: High School to College
Levels
Career
College: 2-year
College: 4-year