"A common vision of a well-integrated educational system extending from birth through postsecondary education is essential." (SHEEO, 2003)

Resource for Faculty

As a faculty member your direct contact with students and your ability to help make decisions regarding curriculum, course placement and even college admissions, puts you in a unique and important position to contribute to ensuring college readiness among students in your state. Use the links below to get started. Start by getting the facts on the expectations gap and understanding your role in helping students make the link from high school to college. Learn how states define college readiness and find out how students are faring in your state. Read research on what college placement tests measure and how states like California are working to bridge the assessment gap. Finally, get ideas about which other faculty and administrators to involve in these efforts and learn how alignment can affect your own courses and curriculum.

Case Studies and Testimonials

Read the following case studies for ideas and examples of best practices as you pursue postsecondary reforms in your state and on your campus.

College Ready Benchmarks and Standards

A number of organizations including Achieve, ACT and the College Board have worked extensively with K-12, postsecondary and business community leadership to to identify the “must have” competencies in English language arts and mathematics for success in college and certificate granting courses.

Connection Champions

The development of students’ college readiness is the responsibility of many individuals working in collaboration from K-12 educators, to postsecondary faculty to members of the employer community. All of these “connection champions” have a stake in the success of students’ transition into entry-level credit-bearing coursework and quality jobs. Each brings a unique perspective to the alignment of expectations for students across the P-20 continuum.

Enhanced Teaching and Learning

Increasing student preparation for college requires not only that K-12 standards and assessments be aligned with college expectations but that teachers be trained to help students meet this level of rigor. In addition to improving teacher education programs, postsecondary leaders across the nation are pursuing various initiatives to support students once they are enrolled. Many of these efforts focus on increasing student retention beyond the first year and improving students’ completion of their program or degree in a timely manner

Expectations Gap Fact Sheets

There is an ever-growing expectations gap between what we expect of our high school graduates to earn a diploma and what is required for their success in higher education.

Higher Education's Role in Defining College Readiness

More and more states have started to work collaboratively with leaders in K-12 and postsecondary education, businesses, communities, and policymakers to align high school graduation standards with expectations for success in entry-level college coursework and quality jobs.

Making the Case

Only postsecondary education leaders and faculty can communicate what they expect entering students to know and what knowledge and skills will prepare students for success in college-level courses. Appropriately connecting students from high school graduation to postsecondary success requires higher education to be engaged and demonstrate leadership in K-12 efforts such as standards setting, curriculum development, determination of high school graduation requirements and selection (or development of) college-ready assessments.

Webinar on Common Core Standards for Postsecondary

On Monday, May 3, the American Council on Education (ACE) and Achieve co-sponsored a webinar on the implications of the Common Core State Standards Initiative for colleges and universities. The initiative is a state-led effort managed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Webinar on Common Core Standards for Postsecondary

On Monday, May 3, the American Council on Education (ACE) and Achieve co-sponsored a webinar on the implications of the Common Core State Standards Initiative for colleges and universities.