Making a Plan

States that are making progress in defining college-readiness, aligning standards, improving graduation requirements and assessing college-readiness have clearly defined plans that have a statewide focus on the dual targets of postsecondary education and careers. Plans begin with a clear picture of what is required for entry into credit bearing coursework and quality jobs that frequently require postsecondary education and training. Such college readiness plans make connections:

• Across the K-12, higher education, and employer community to engage key constituents in the definition of college readiness benchmarks.
• To state priorities for raising high school and college graduation rates, improving economic development and that draw upon state and national data and current research to make the case for change.
• To related legislative priorities for improving schools, raising high school graduation rates and putting accountability measures into place.
• To timelines that allow for the coherent and practical implementation of various initiatives.
• To P-20 Councils, Business and Education Roundtables and other cross-sector organizations that provide a “home” and guidance for this initiative.

Most importantly, plans to develop college readiness rely upon leaders to collaborate in taking action. The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) encourages postsecondary leaders to be catalysts in the development of strategies that promote college readiness by addressing early outreach, curriculum and assessment systems, high quality teaching, student financial assistance, student success in college, and aligned data and accountability systems.

Read about what postsecondary stakeholders, campuses, and state systems are doing in Indiana, Georgia, and Virginia to identify expectations, align assessments and create new admission and placement policies.