This report examines state portraits of a graduate and how state strategies for development and implementation can support future readiness. It also provides recommendations for state education agencies to consider to lift up the importance and visibility of these portraits. Several states have begun the process of developing a…

The "2025 Pro-Kid Policy Agenda for California" is the comprehensive state-level roadmap to ensure that all children have the necessary services and supports to reach their full potential. California has an obligation to end systemic injustices that create barriers to kids of color, as well as kids living in poverty, kids living in…

States recognize that a workforce skill shortage exists and have started educational initiatives to prepare students for workforce readiness and postsecondary success. There is a growing consensus among states that the goal of our education system is to prepare students for a career, college, or the military by providing all students with…

Industry-recognized certifications (IRCs) are designed by businesses, industrial groups, and state agencies to enable students to demonstrate their skills related to a specific profession and to enable industries to know whether potential employees are qualified for specific jobs. To understand the value of these certifications, Matt Giani…

This study examined the college and career efforts of adult education programs in South Carolina. Using a survey developed by the National Resource Center "Exploring College and Career Readiness in South Carolina Secondary Schools", adult education directors were surveyed. The survey instrument was adapted to include adult education…

The Pennsylvania Department of Education revised the statewide graduation requirement (Act 158) to include postsecondary preparedness effective with the 2023 graduation class. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was adopted to mandate schools to provide the resources to assist students to meet academic standards leading to career and college…

This study sought to examine transition readiness rates in the state of Kentucky to gauge if there was any difference based on socioeconomic status (SES). Public school districts were identified and data was gathered to determine transition readiness rates as well as data to determine SES. Free and reduced meal (FARM) rates were used to determine…

The purpose of this review was to investigate the extent to which students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are adequately represented in and benefiting from college and career readiness (CCR) intervention research across race and gender groups. We conducted a secondary analysis of 14 intervention studies meeting the criteria for a…

This qualitative research study addressed a notable gap in existing literature by examining the perceptions and relationship between experiential learning and college and career readiness within the homeschooling context. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 13 homeschooled students from northwestern Florida. To gather data, indepth,…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the perspectives virtual high school graduates have about their self-regulation and college and career readiness by using an online survey and semi-structured interview. Of the 28 eligible participants who attended one virtual high school in the Midwest for at least two years and graduated…

In this study, we compared students' engagement in college and career readiness experiences between three academies and a traditional, comprehensive high school. The three academies differed on fidelity in implementing the NAF career academy model. We found that students in the high fidelity NAF academy engaged in both college and career readiness…

In recent years, a concerted effort has been made to integrate the various components of college and career military readiness (CCMR) studies. Research demonstrated that critical thinking skills, such as analysis, interpretation, problem-solving, and reasoning, are more crucial for success at the entry-level stages of college than mere knowledge…

The purpose of this qualitative case study on implementing the Innovative High School Models Grant was to examine administrators' and teachers' experiences integrating college and career readiness programming into Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. Forward-thinking leadership and strategic partnerships were key to the initiative's…

Despite the many benefits associated with obtaining a college degree, many of our nation's public-school students, particularly marginalized students, remain ill-equipped to pursue their desired post-secondary goals (Morgan et al., 2014). The researcher uses published literature to define and substantiate the systemic challenges that lower…

Maryland has a strong educational system with a state legislature actively establishing policy through legislation to benefit its citizens. Often these legislated policies need to be implemented with benchmarks or considerations for the differences between the counties. This study addressed the impact of dual enrollment programs created by…