The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "College Opportunity." Contents include: (1) School Counselors Express Concerns…

Traditionally, higher education institutions have not been easily accessible to low income, first-generation college students. However, higher education is quickly becoming more desirable for economic independence and a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Federal college preparation programs were created to create diversity among college campuses…

More California high school graduates are academically ready for college than ever before. More are applying to and enrolling in college, and both the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) are expanding access for example--UC pledged to enroll 10,000 more freshmen and transfer students between 2016 and 2018. But…

During the past decade, education leaders and policymakers have made significant investments to better align California's K-12 and postsecondary education systems and to address persistent disparities in educational attainment by race and socioeconomic status. This report distills important lessons emerging from these efforts, integrating the…

At Piedmont Middle School, the future for students is changing through relevant, engaging learning opportunities, a school culture filled with hope, and a redesigned teaching and learning environment that utilizes blended learning, project-based learning, and competency-based learning to personalize education. The academic model is anchored by a…

The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) presents this position statement to provide guidelines for how best to prepare and support postsecondary instructors of writing throughout their careers. In producing this statement, CCCC envisions many audiences that may possess disparate interests, including undergraduate and…

Nonacademic skills related to college and career readiness (CCR) have become more prevalent in the literature as proposed conceptual models and frameworks, yet little empirical research exists in their support. We employed latent variable modeling to empirically test a previously proposed six-domain framework of CCR for adolescents with and…

Students often enter higher education academically unprepared and with unrealistic perceptions and expectations regarding academic competencies for their studies. However, preparedness and realistic perceptions are important factors for student retention. With regard to a proposed model of five academic competencies (time management, learning…

This study examines the association between high school teachers' collegial networks and their own familiarity with, and practices related to, supporting students' admission to college. Using survey data collected at two time points from 163 teachers in four mid-Michigan high schools in 2011-2012, this study (a) employs cluster analysis to map…

Objective: Despite significant attention from federal and state policy makers, postsecondary completion rates in the United States remain stratified across race and socioeconomic background. This study examines a community-based college readiness program for underrepresented students from low-resource neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois. Method:…

This study examined the impact of a university outdoor orientation program on participants' transition to higher education. Researchers focused on participants' experiences during the program, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to measure resilience and well-being. Pre- and posttest instruments consisted of two preestablished scales and a series…

College readiness of students and the effectiveness of remedial mathematics courses have been under consideration for the last two decades. There is a considerable misalignment between the expectations of students regarding secondary education and those regarding higher education. Information about current expectations and perspectives of college…

College and Career Readiness (CCR) is broadly defined as the ability of an individual to be successful in postsecondary education and employment. Although the definition of CCR continues to develop within policy and research, scholars suggest that both academic and nonacademic skills are crucial components. Recently a CCR framework for students…

Based on the Integrated Conceptual Model of Student Success, we used structural equation modeling (path analysis) to test a model of college readiness counseling for Native American high school students. Results indicated that college readiness counseling and achievement motivation predicted achievement, while parent support and school climate…

This case study examined the collaborations between an urban school district and various entities, as part of their district-wide implementation of high school career academies. Specifically, the study addressed the following research question: How has cross-sector collaboration shaped the development and implementation of career academies in an…