Issue/Policy Brief

This policy brief describes programs and initiatives from different states and districts that have been implemented to retain students, lower dropout rates, and help provide students with life skills to make them successful through and after high school. The authors start with a discussion of how to determine the parameters of graduation policy, i.e., identifying which courses students should be required to take and anchoring courses in standards that are aligned with college and career expectations.

This policy brief outlines the policy agenda of the Coalition for a College and Career Ready America. The authors note that the coalition supports: high standards with supports for students, providing states and districts with access to quality data and technical assistance, recognizing the role of charter schools and high-quality models, turning around all low-performing schools, and aligning state and federal initiatives with these principals.

This fact sheet seeks to update the components that make up "career ready". The authors broaden career readiness to include: academic skills, employability skills, and technical skills to align with the needs of 21st century employers. The authors conclude that it requires all three of these skill sets for students to be career ready.

This fact sheet outlines important shifts in Career and Technical Education in terms of program inclusiveness, academic connectedness, "real-world" focus, and career clusters available to students. Data points from a wide variety of studies and assessments are provided.

This paper from EPIC asserts that a new operational definition of college readiness is needed, proposing a shift from a focus on high school coursework, grades and scores on national exams, to a new and more comprehensive conceptualization of college readiness. The author suggests, based on the last two decades of research, that there are several other key components of college success.

This fact sheet published by Achieve examines which states require students to complete a college and career ready high school curriculum. The document details specific graduation requirements set by each of these states, recent changes in requirements and other policy specifics, such as whether or not students can opt out of curriculum requirements and which future graduating classes will be impacted.

This brief from The Annie E. Casey Foundation outlines five broad strategies for reducing the dropout rate. The authors discuss specific facets to each of the broad strategies and provide recommendations for each.

This brief from CLASP discusses six promising programs that show how career pathway bridges help lower-skilled students move farther and faster along college and career paths through dual enrollment in linked basic skills and occupational certificate courses. The brief finds that these bridges both engage instructors and administrators and bring basic skills students into the mainstream of colleges. Finally, it is asserted that at minimum, career pathways bridges should create shorter, more relevant paths to credentials that matter in the local economy.

This policy brief sponsored by the Data Quality Campaign discusses the states’ role in keeping student data private and used effectively and securely. The author explains the importance of state guidance on securing data and creating efficient systems of using data. It provides recommendations including establishing roles for data stewardship, ensuring policy documentation, transparency and enforcement, and supporting organizational capacity.

This policy brief focuses on state implementation of Title III from the No Child Left Behind Act, which covers English language learners. This brief summarizes state actions to date to implement those provisions, and outlines key benefits and challenges that have emerged.