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High Schools That Matter
This issue of The Standard reimagines the high school experience, illuminating the data, policy reforms, and engagement with students, families, and educators that must align to make redesign possible.Reengaging High School Students through Career Academies
When built around four key elements, academies deliver rigorous, relevant learning tied to students' career aspirations.States Sketch ‘Portraits of a Graduate’
While their entry points and approaches to the work differ, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington have all drawn up profiles that many call the North Star of their state education systems.Ensuring Students with Disabilities Leave School Ready to Succeed
State boards can watch policies for red flags that hold students back.Five Questions State Boards Should Ask to Advance College and Career Readiness
State boards can leverage dual enrollment opportunities, rigorous coursework, new graduation pathways, course alignment with high-opportunity careers, skill building for the jobs of the future, and tracking of student attainment after graduation to expand college and career readiness.Telltale Signs of Rigor and Career Readiness in High School
State boards can take a lesson from schools that already dish up rigorous assignments in college- and career-ready courses alike and ensure more schools do it.NASBE Standard Examines How States Can Better Evaluate and Communicate Career-Relevant Skills
Authors explore ways states can ensure the durable skills”students gain in high school are valued beyond high school.
read moreThe Role of State Boards in Making Credentials' Value Transparent
Not all credentials are created equal, so how will students and families choose?
read moreTurning Graduate Portraits into Pathways
North Carolina and Indiana are leading in the push toward teaching and assessing durable skills.
read moreRemaking Transcripts to Better Reflect Students’ Competencies
State boards wanting to capture student mastery in new ways have many considerations to take into account.
read moreGetting Postsecondary Outcomes Data to K-12 Leaders
Many education systems are not set up to give leaders and staff the information they need to ensure they are preparing students for their next steps.
read moreDemonstrating Skills of Value
State education leaders are focused on ensuring students graduate ready for life after high school—but how do students know they’re building valuable, transferable skills, and how will employers and colleges recognize them?
read moreAdvancing High Schoolers’ Financial Literacy
Forty-one states now require personal finance education for graduation. This analysis examines state financial literacy approaches and key drivers for success.
read moreWith New Diploma, Indiana Takes Step toward Remaking High School
As part of Indiana's high school transformation efforts, the state has adopted a new diploma framework with seals tied to college, career, or military pathways, offering students more flexibility and clearer outcomes.
read moreKentucky’s Homegrown Approach to Rethinking High Schools
Kentucky is using community-driven portraits of a learner to guide high school redesign, focusing on local flexibility, more relevant assessments, and vibrant learning.
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