Aligning Standards

Many states have engaged in a formal process to align the expectations for exiting high school with those for entering college and work. The 10 Action Steps in this section provide state teams with a road map and the tools to lead a 10 – 15 month process that will result in Academic Standards for College and Career that are mutually endorsed by K-12, postsecondary, and employers. These standards define the knowledge and skills to enter and succeed in credit-bearing college coursework and quality entry-level jobs that likely require further education and training. The design and content of this process draws heavily on the benchmark expectations and lessons developed by Achieve.