Graduate youth by dramatically increasing the number of young people who receive a post-secondary degree or credential while continuing to boost high school graduation rates and student skill levels.
YOUTH & COMMUNITY LEADERS
- Engage in hands-on, empowering leadership experiences that teach the tools for self-sufficiency and help young Americans complete high school and post-secondary education.
EMPLOYERS / NONPROFITS & PHILANTHROPY / EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
- Build smoother transitions from school to work through closer collaboration among schools, community colleges, universities, nonprofits and employers so young adults can gain valuable, transferrable skills while becoming ready for college and careers.
- Promote and help build direct partnerships between employers and higher education institutions to ensure clear links between post-secondary credentials and career pathway job experiences.
- Identify high-quality, industry-validated credentials that are used for hiring.
- Encourage opportunities for every student to be connected with at least one employer and have some form of work experience with that employer.
- Revamp developmental education through strategies such as integrating basic skills with occupational skills and summer immersion courses, so that remedial education is no longer a barrier to completing a post-secondary degree.
- Make college registration systems more flexible and student-centric; increase advising to improve higher education decision-making; and make it easier to transfer credits from community colleges to four-year colleges and universities.
- To reach the goal of national 90% high school graduation rate by 2020, focus on dropout prevention and the re-engagement of recent dropouts and over-age and under-credit students.
- Create an alternative accountability system for non-traditional high school students and programs, and improve and expand credit recovery programs. Examples include: early warning systems; flexible schedules; a reduction in seat time barriers through adaptive models; increased worked-based learning time and competency/mastery based credit award; night and weekend programs for young adults; and tracking graduation of re-engaged youth and credit accumulation.
- Expand dual enrollment programs that allow high school students and those who recently dropped out to earn college credit while working toward their diploma.
- Identify students who have recently left higher education (within the past two years) and help them re-enroll and get on track to complete a certificate, industry-recognized credential, associate or bachelor degree.
POLICYMAKERS
- Improve affordability and financial aid access.
- Support college savings plans for low-income children.
Resources:
