Summary from the author: "The report highlights how Florida's colleges worked with K-12 partners to design, plan, and launch an ambitious college-readiness agenda with a new college placement test as its centerpiece.  As other states are considering pursuing similar efforts, Florida's experiences have implications beyond the Sunshine State."

"The Indiana Education Roundtable voted this week to recommend the State Board of Education adopt new assessment standards aimed at countering the growing number of students coming out of school ill-prepared for the college or career training they need to land a good job."

Excerpt: "Working closely with United Way, Mercer University, Central Georgia Technical College, River Edge Behavioral Health Center and the Macon Housing Authority, seven community nonprofits have designed a collaborative approach involving 28 community partners that will deliver services for at-risk children and their families from birth through college to career, zero to 23: Macon Children’s Promise Neighborhood. Parents, neighborhood leaders and local churches will be crucial partners in this effort."

There is a great deal of discussion today about the importance of a college degree. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs in the future will require some postsecondary education or training. If you look at who has fared best in this economic downturn, there is a direct correlation between the unemployment rate and one's level of educational attainment.

Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg, President of Cape Cod Community College (CCCC), discusses “College Connections” – an innovative program uniting representatives from CCCC with 10 local school districts, which helps high school students transition to higher education. Students and families receive guidance in the admissions and financial aid processes for attending any college or university, and students who will be attending CCCC can begin the intake process right there on site.

Iowa-based blogger Bradley Niebling chronicles all things “alignment,” including his recent trip to the international meeting for the Surveys of Enacted Curriculum. Niebling also offers readers a complete background introduction to curriculum alignment, in what Niebling refers to as his “Curriculum Alignment Foundation Series.”

This article asserts that P-12 and postsecondary education are not only out of sync, but are completely separate educational systems, working in isolation. How can we close the gap between them? It provides key tips for administrators, instructors, counselors and state policymakers, including enabling smoother transition of credits between academic institutions and aligning high school curricula with college admissions requirements. A concluding list of links provides additional resources on alignment.

Beginning with a historical sketch on the mission of the U.S. high school, this in-depth report takes readers through over a century of ever-changing national and state approaches to college and workforce readiness. It explores important areas of focus for today’s high schools in order to ensure students are prepared for higher education and careers.

What does it mean to be “ready” for college? This online indicator shows information and statistics on which states have policies in place to answer that question and to establish clear alignment between K-12 and higher education expectations.

Recognizing the important role that counselors play in nurturing students toward degree attainment, the College Board’s National Office for School Counselor Advocacy has developed eight components of college and career readiness counseling. Launched at the College Board’s national conference in April, this guide offers a comprehensive framework outlining steps to completion, such as building social capital, accomplishing early college planning and helping students and families through the process of securing admissions and financial aid.