SAN JOSE, Calif.
States are pushing colleges, universities and K-12 schools to work together, but many state policies work at odds with the reforms needed to improve students’ college readiness and success, according to a new study. At a time when the nation must have citizens who have achieved educational success beyond high school, the need for improved transitions from high school to college is urgent.

These are among the findings of “The Governance Divide: A Report on a Four-State Study on Improving College Readiness and Success,” released jointly by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research and the Institute for Educational Leadership.

The report identifies four areas in which states can work to improve the transition from high school to college: 

- Alignment of Courses and Assessment: States need to make sure that what students are asked to know and do in high school is connected to postsecondary expectations. 

- Finance: State need-based financial aid policy should be linked with student preparation for college and state budgeting policy should support collaboration between schools and colleges. 

- Accountability: States need to connect their accountability systems for K-12 and postsecondary education.

- Data Systems: States must provide better information about education for policy-makers and the public, including information about high school students’ preparation for college-level work.

Andrea Venezia, senior policy analyst at the National Center and co-author of the report states, “This study outlines concrete policy changes states can put into place, and stresses the importance of both systems working together. We believe it will help states take that next step and change the policies that drive their education systems.”

For more information, and for copies of the report, go to <www.highereducation.org/reports/governance_divide/index.shtml>.