Next Steps and Resources

Postsecondary education leaders’ and faculty members’ active involvement in the alignment process is a critical first step in helping to improve the percentage of American students prepared to enroll in college and persist in a timely manner.  Importantly, it will also send clear signals about real-world college and work expectations down the educational pipeline, beginning in preschool (i.e., the P-20 pipeline). The quality of school readiness and elementary education affects the percentage of middle school students that can succeed in rigorous, college preparatory courses. 

While higher education leaders’ involvement will result in the creation of clear high school readiness targets for students, families, K-12 teachers and guidance counselors, the work of improving academic proficiency and retention is the collective responsibility of educators, employers and citizens across the state. The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) suggests states increase college readiness by building systems that are aligned for student success.  Read SHEEO's report, More Student Success.

In many states, postsecondary leaders are participating in - and in some states leading - college readiness initiatives that span the education system from pre-school through college under the P-16 umbrella. The University System of Georgia has one of the longest standing, successful P-16 efforts in the nation promoting student progress and quality teaching through a variety of aligned initiatives.  Read more about Georgia's initiatives.

This chapter provides links to a number of resources and ideas that can help postsecondary leaders engage directly with the “next phase” of the alignment process, including:

• Early outreach programs that address the college access pipeline to help students transition more successfully from the early grades to high school to college 
• Enhanced teaching and learning strategies that strive to improve instruction at the high school and college level and improve retention of students once they enroll in postsecondary education
• Aligned incentives that link financial aid, college admissions and placement preferences to students who demonstrate college-readiness 
• P-20 tracking mechanisms that offer data and accountability systems that measure students' success