This paper argues that colleges anchor their communities by developing knowledge and skills within their region; establishing links and exchanges outside the region; contributing to civic, political, cultural, and social activities and networks in their region; developing facilities and amenities used by the community; and, contributing to their…

This brief provides an overview of the postsecondary readiness-focused interventions that districts partnering with the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN) implemented and evaluated through a randomized controlled trial during the 2021-22 school year. NCRERN districts piloted two interventions aimed at improving…

Job opportunities in the United States are growing, but there are not enough interested or qualified workers to fill them. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also transforming the future of work, bringing both innovation and uncertainty and emphasizing the growing need to equip students with adaptable, future-ready skills. This report advocates for…

From October 2021, the government introduced a pilot in 30 local authorities to support 16 to 18-year-old children looked-after (CLA) and care leavers (CLs) in general further education (FE) colleges through the extension of Pupil Premium Plus funding to post-16 (PP+ Post-16). The 6-month pilot was completed between autumn 2021 and spring 20221 ,…

Social and emotional (SE) skills are known to be linked with many important life outcomes, including academic performance, performance on standardized college entrance exams, and college enrollment. In this technical brief, the authors evaluated whether the five SE skills measured with the Mosaic™ by ACT® predict postsecondary enrollment and…

Young people need clear pathways to navigate from K-12 education into careers that align with their interests, strengths, and life goals. But they often lack the information, support, and access to choose and complete postsecondary pathways that are right for them. The federal government can play an important role in bridging this gap, by…

The report "State Approaches to Short-Term Postsecondary Credentials: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Gaps" explores how state policymakers engage with short-term postsecondary credentials, highlighting key policy levers such as state authorization, consumer protections, financial aid, and quality standards. It examines the…

"Project QUEST" ("Quality Employment through Skills Training") provides comprehensive support services to help participants complete occupational training programs at local community colleges and professional training institutes, pass certification exams, and obtain well-paying jobs in targeted sectors of the local economy.…

"Project QUEST" ("Quality Employment through Skills Training") provides comprehensive support services to help participants complete occupational training programs at local community colleges and professional training institutes, pass certification exams, and obtain well-paying jobs in targeted sectors of the local economy.…

"Project QUEST" ("Quality Employment through Skills Training") provides comprehensive support services to help participants complete occupational training programs at local community colleges and professional training institutes, pass certification exams, and obtain well-paying jobs in targeted sectors of the local economy.…

This book examines the contribution of entrepreneurs in diversifying and redefining the tertiary education landscape in Australia. The book explores "how" and "why" entrepreneurs have decided to enter a sector which, traditionally, has been predominated by public providers. The book focuses on ways in which entrepreneurs have…

Postsecondary students with disabilities underutilize career services (CS) and report systemic barriers when trying to do so. Disability resource (DR) professionals rarely have the experience to advise students on employment issues such as internship opportunities, disclosure during interviews, and how to obtain workplace accommodations. Research…

One of the goals for family and consumer sciences (FCS) educators who work with secondary and post-secondary students is to equip them with the skills needed for future careers. Regardless of the work environment, effective leaders who have an accurate understanding of their emotions and social skills are able to use them to obtain positive…

In late 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, restoring access to federal Pell Grants for confined and incarcerated students for the first time since 1994. Following the reversal of this nearly 30-year ban, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) established a new application process for institutions of higher education seeking to…

Resilience training for Further Education (FE) managers has become an increasingly familiar aspect of management development. This paper challenges the accepted orthodoxies underpinning resilience as a 'learnable' skill required to succeed as a manager. In particular, it addresses the concepts of toxic positivity, growth mindset (Dweck) and Grit…