CFN 106
College and
Career
Readiness
December
15-21, 2011
Message from the President:
“I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training.
This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever
the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma.”
WHAT IS COLLEGE- AND CAREER- READY?
It is commonly said that the goal of high school reform is to ensure all students graduate “college and career-ready.”
But as often as this mantra is repeated, confusion remains over what it actually means.
Simply put, “college and career readiness” refers to the content knowledge and skills high school graduates must possess in English and mathematics – including, but not limited to, reading, writing communications, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving – to be successful in any and all future endeavors.
Of course, readiness for college and careers depends on more than English and mathematics knowledge; to be successful after high school, all
What is “College” ready?
College today means much more than just pursuing a four- year degree at a university. Being “college ready "means being prepared for any postsecondary education or training
experience, including study at two- and four-year institutions leading to a postsecondary credential (i.e. a certificate, license, Associates or Bachelor’s degree). Being ready for college
means that a high school graduate has the English and
What is “Career” ready?
In today’s economy, a “career” is not just a job. A career provides a family-sustaining wage and pathways to advancement and
requires postsecondary training or education.
A job may be obtained with only a high school diploma, but offers no guarantee of advancement or mobility.
Being ready for a career means that a high school graduate has the English, and mathematics knowledge and skills needed to qualify for and succeed in the postsecondary job training and/or education necessary for their chosen career (i.e.
Is ready for
COLLEGE and ready for
CAREER the same thing?
With respect to the knowledge and skills in English and mathematics expected by employers and postsecondary faculty, the answer is Yes.
In the last decade, research conducted by Achieve as well as others shows a convergence in the expectations of employers and colleges in terms of the knowledge and skills high school grads need to be successful after high school.
Economic reality reflects these converging expectations. Education is more valued and more necessary that ever before. The bottom line is that today
ALL high school graduates need to be prepared for some postsecondary
Thirty five years ago, only 12%
of U.S. jobs required some
postsecondary training or an
associate’s degree and only
Nearly eight in ten future job openings in the next decade
in the U.S. will require postsecondary education or
training.
Forty-five percent will be in “middle skill” occupations,
which require at least some postsecondary education
and training, while 33% will be in high skilled occupations
for which a Bachelors degree or more is required.
By contrast, only 22% of future job openings will be “low
•
While the U.S. still ranks 3rd in the adult
population (25-64 year olds) with an
associates degree or higher among 30
countries, we now rank 10th among
25-34 year olds with a two-year degree and
above.
Competing countries are catching up to –
and even outpacing – the U.S. in the
•
Higher levels of education lead to elevated wages,
a more equitable distribution of income and
substantial gains in productivity.
For every additional average year of schooling U.S.
citizens complete, the GDP would increase by
about 0.37 percentage points – or by 10% – over
Top 10 Facts About College
Readiness:
1. The more education, the more likely people are to be employed and the more money they earn in their occupation. High school graduates earn 36.2 percent more than dropouts.
2. Only about two-thirds of students (68.8 percent in 2007) graduate high school on time.
3. Only about a third of eighth graders score at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in Reading (32 percent), Mathematics (34
percent), or Science (29 percent).
4. Virtually all states set their standards for Proficiency below those of the federal NAEP. 5. On the 2006 PISA test, 15-year-old students
in 23 counties scored higher than those in the U.S. in math literacy and 16 countries scored higher in science literacy.
6. Teachers are the single most important factor on student achievement in the classroom. On
average, having a top quartile teacher rather than a bottom quartile teacher will result in a 10
percentile point test score difference.
7. Scores on standardized tests have dropped. On the SAT students scored 501 in Reading (down from 508 in 2004 and 2005) and 515 in
mathematics (down from 520 in 2005). On the ACT, the composite score went from 21.2 in 2007 to 21 in 2010.
8. Only 24 percent of high school seniors who take took the ACT test in 2010 meet its college-ready benchmarks in all four core subject areas.
9. Between 1982 and 2005, the percentage of high school graduates who took Chemistry and Physics more than doubled while the percentage taking Algebra II, went from 39.9 percent to 70.3 percent. Despite this, test scores have not increased.
What can YOU do at your school ?
Entry Point: Career Planning Programs
What is it, and why is it important to college and career readiness?
Career planning programs link postsecondary planning to understanding career interests and pathways through specific tools and activities. Schools will develop knowledge and tools in this area as well as look at structures and resources that engage students in career and postsecondary planning.
What areas can a school focus on- what are the possible goals?
Teacher/Counselor development: knowledge of interest inventories, training in career pathways and search tools, knowledge of postsecondary options including training programs
Develop a postsecondary planning tool that includes career and college planning steps
Develop a process for working with students/families on regularly updating career and college plan Implement a high quality, annual career day (s)
Exploratory interviewing
Student Group work or research project around careers in a class
Entry Point: Developing an Advisory Program
What is it and why is it important to college and career readiness?
Advisory programs can be central to supporting a schoolwide postsecondary planning culture and developing effective college and career practices within a school for distributing the work of college and career planning. Participants will work with schools to plan and strengthen existing advisory programs or implement new programs aligned with these goals.
What areas can a school focus on- what are the possible goals?
Establish the mission/goals for the advisory program
Determine which grades or target population you will focus on Review available curricula and select one
Train staff and develop ongoing system of staff support Revise school schedule to support advisory
