Monitoring and Closing Academic Preparation Gaps

Are students on the path to college and career readiness at an early age?

Many students are on academic paths that, if continued, will not lead to college and career readiness at high school graduation. Academic preparation gaps exist for these students because what they are

learning in K-12 may not accurately prepare them for college or skilled careers. This section contains information and resources on the relationship between early academic preparation and later student success, on identifying and monitoring students’ academic preparation gaps, and on the success of schools and school systems in closing these gaps.

Review these resources related to Closing Gaps:

Preparation Matters

This paper discusses the inadequacy of strategies based on student course-taking unless policymakers also pay sufficient attention to course rigor and to students’ academic preparation in elementary and middle school that makes them ready to benefit from rigorous courses in high school.    Read More...

Featured writing:

The Forgotten Middle

“Our research shows that, under current conditions, the level of academic achievement that students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact on their college and career readiness by the time they graduate from high school than anything that happens academically in high school. This report also reveals that students’ academic readiness for college and career can be improved when students develop behaviors in the upper elementary grades and in middle school that are known to contribute to successful academic performance.”  Read More…

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