Districts need to develop robust measures to track their students’ college readiness, starting as early as elementary school – and use those measures to put supports and interventions in place.
College Readiness Indicator Systems
2012, NO.35
While most U.S. education stakeholders now recognize that a high school diploma is not enough to prepare students for post-secondary success, how do we know when a student is "college ready," and how do we use that information to design effective support and interventions?
The College Readiness Indicator System initiative has developed a menu of signals and supports of students’ academic progress, tenacity, and college knowledge at the student, school, and district levels.
In San Jose, the principals of an elementary, middle, and high school in the same feeder cluster share data and align their indicators and supports to create K–12 college readiness pipeline.
At-risk, academically struggling students – especially young minority males – have reached high levels of achievement in STEM fields through a program focused on trust, high expectations, and effective college and career counseling.
College readiness for all young people requires support from the district for all its schools to make sure their students are prepared academically and know what they need to do to enter, pay for, and succeed in college.
A “smart education system” connects a district, its partners, and an organized community to provide all its students with a comprehensive web of supports and opportunities, in and out of school, that will ensure college success.