The Essential Practices for College and Career Ready Instruction framework identifies research-based instructional strategies for use in early college high school programs, as well as other educational settings where educators seek to build a rigorous and engaging culture of learning grounded in student ownership of the learning process. The early college model bridges the gap between high school and college, allowing students to graduate with a high school diploma, associate degree, workforce credentials, and up to 2 years of college credit. In preparing students to meet and exceed college- and career-ready standards, the early college model combines academic rigor, high quality instruction, and a comprehensive approach to student support in a college-going environment. More than 2 decades of research indicates that the model improves students' postsecondary outcomes, especially for students who are economically disadvantaged, first-generation college students, and from groups that are statistically underrepresented in higher education. Although early college models vary in how they are implemented at the state and local level, rigorous, student-centered instruction is an essential component of the model regardless of setting. [The report was produced by RTI's Center for Education Services and Early College Network (ECN).]