College & Workforce Readiness Blog

High School & Beyond

Some of the biggest policy debates center on high school: college and career readiness, testing, dual enrollment, career-technical education, transitions to college and work. Veteran reporter Catherine Gewertz explored them all here. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: high schools, college & workforce readiness.

Assessment Are the ACT or SAT Good Substitutes for State Tests? New Study Raises Questions
A new study raises questions about how easily states can use the SAT or ACT instead of their required high school achievement tests.
Catherine Gewertz, January 8, 2018
5 min read
College & Workforce Readiness States Explore New Routes to High School Completion Without Equivalency Exams
Illinois is making plans that would allow adults to earn high school equivalency without passing tests like the GED.
Catherine Gewertz, January 4, 2018
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Florida Clears Way to Diplomas for Hurricane-Displaced Students
Florida will allow students displaced by Hurricane Maria to earn Puerto Rican diplomas in their newly adopted Florida schools. The decision addresses concerns that students might not be prepared to pass Florida graduation exams.
Catherine Gewertz, January 3, 2018
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness New Graduation Requirement in New Mexico? College Application or Training
A bill in the New Mexico legislature would add a new high school graduation requirement for students: They'd have to have a plan to go to college or enroll in a training program.
Catherine Gewertz, December 28, 2017
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Can a 'Career Readiness' Seal on High School Diplomas Help Students?
Ohio is offering students a new option with their diplomas: They can earn a "career readiness" seal by learning and demonstrating job skills like collaboration and having a good work ethic.
Catherine Gewertz, December 26, 2017
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Automation Will Create More Jobs Than It Will Eliminate, Analyst Says
The author of a new study on jobs and automation predicts that technology will create more jobs than it will eliminate, and says that it is more essential than ever for business and government to invest in training and retraining workers.
Catherine Gewertz, December 22, 2017
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Testing, Bachelor's Degrees and More: the Most-Read 'High School & Beyond' Posts of 2017
The most-read blog posts of 2017 show a wide-ranging interest in financial aid, the value of high school diplomas and bachelor's degrees, and, yes, testing screwups.
Catherine Gewertz, December 21, 2017
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness More Students Seek Bachelor's Degrees, Even as Policymakers Push Other Options
A new study suggests that students might not be heeding a big argument policymakers have been pushing--that students don't need bachelor's degrees to be successful.
Catherine Gewertz, December 20, 2017
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness More Free ACT, SAT Score Reports Announced for Low-Income Students
ACT announces an expansion of its policy to let low-income students send their test scores to colleges for free. Almost immediately, the College Board announced that it is expanding its own free-score-report policy.
Catherine Gewertz, December 14, 2017
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness FAFSA Hacker Pleads Guilty to Trying to Get Trump Tax Info
A Louisiana man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in a hacking scheme that shut down a key piece of the federal financial aid system earlier this year.
Catherine Gewertz, December 12, 2017
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Apprenticeships or College? How About Both?
Policymakers need to break down barriers that promote a false choice between apprenticeships and higher education. A new paper outlines steps to blend the two.
Catherine Gewertz, December 8, 2017
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Colleges Expand Commitments to Recruit Underserved Students
Colleges and universities are expanding their commitments to bring more low-income, high-achieving students onto their campuses as part of the American Talent Initiative.
Catherine Gewertz, December 7, 2017
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness U.S. Graduation Rate Hits New All-Time High, With Gains in All Student Groups
The high school graduation rate has reached yet another all-time high, with notable gains in all groups of students.
Catherine Gewertz, December 4, 2017
5 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Financial Aid Awareness and Counseling Enhanced Under GOP Higher-Ed Bill
A Republican bill to overhaul the Higher Education Act would require schools to notify students by 10th grade that financial aid could help them afford college. It also requires "enhanced" financial-aid counseling.
Catherine Gewertz, December 1, 2017
2 min read