Education

Diplomas Count 2007: Ready for What?

June 20, 2007 1 min read
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As high school commencement time rolls around, states are working to ensure that their graduates are “ready” for life after high school.

Eleven states report that they have adopted a definition of “college readiness,” and 14 more are in the process of doing so. Twenty-one states report they have a definition of “work readiness,” and 10 more states are tackling the issue.

Despite all the activity, there is still plenty of confusion about precisely what it means to be “college” or “career” ready. Do Americans expect all students to be ready for college and work—or just for one or the other? And if they’re saying all students should be ready for both, does that mean every teenager must have exactly the same preparation in high school?

Share your thoughts on the connection between education, earnings, and a decent job.

A version of this news article first appeared in the TalkBack blog.

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