Report Shows States Have Led Paradigm Shift in Education Reform; College and Career Readiness Now the 'Norm'

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Achieve's fifth annual "Closing the Expectations Gap" report shows that in the five years since the National Governors Association (NGA) and Achieve co-sponsored the National Education Summit on high schools, the goal of aligning high school graduation requirements with the demands of college and the workplace has gone from a radical concept to the new norm throughout the country. Such change, measured across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, can largely, if not exclusively, be attributed to state leadership.

"What started off as isolated efforts among a few states five years ago has produced a national consensus: all students should receive a quality education that prepares them to succeed in college, career and life," said Mike Cohen, Achieve's president. "We applaud state leaders for spearheading what will benefit the future of our children and our nation."

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the "Closing the Expectations Gap" report, which Achieve has conducted annually since 2005 when it launched the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network at the National Education Summit to challenge states to work together on a college- and career-readiness agenda. The 50-state survey measures the same five areas of reform each year, as listed below, and reveals the following changes over the last five years:

Standards: At the time of the National Education Summit, only three states had end of high school standards aligned with the demands of college and career. Today, 31 states have developed and adopted high school academic standards in English and mathematics that are aligned with college- and career-ready expectations.

• Graduation Requirements: In 2005, only three states had established college- and career-ready graduation requirements. Today, 20 states and the District of Columbia require all students to complete such a curriculum to earn a high school diploma.
• P-20 Data Systems: In 2005, only three states had operational P-20 longitudinal data systems that link states' student-level K–12 data with similar data from their postsecondary systems. Today, 16 states are matching such data annually.
• Assessments: Five years ago, three states administered college- and career-ready high school assessments. Today, 14 states have such exams.
• Accountability: In 2005, no state had a comprehensive reporting and accountability system that valued college and career readiness. While progress in this area has been slowest, 22 states have now incorporated at least one of four accountability indicators that Achieve has identified as critical to promoting college and career readiness, with only one state making full use of all of the indicators in its accountability system.

"I'm proud of the progress Tennessee and other American Diploma Project Network states have made in just five short years," said Achieve co-chair and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "The challenge now for all states, as we discovered in Tennessee, is to sustain progress and push forward on the implementation of college- and career-ready policies so they become the norm not just in policy, but in fact in every classroom."

The Common Core State Standards Initiative will help accelerate the college- and career-ready agenda. Building on what the states have already accomplished - and at their request - these next generation standards will help states further define college and career readiness for students, parents and educators. They will also provide a foundation that will enable states to voluntarily create and use high-quality common tools such as assessments, curriculum, instructional materials (i.e. textbooks, software) and professional development programs.