This final policy report from Stanford University’s Bridge Project is the culmination of six years of field research, literature review, and data analysis regarding the sever disconnect between K-12 and post-secondary education. The research focused specifically on regions in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, and Texas. The report identifies many barriers to successful post-secondary transitions including the misalignment of high school assessments with college entrance requirements; inequalities in college counseling and college preparation course offerings; limited student knowledge of college curricular and placement policies; college preparation issues in the classroom; overestimation of tuition; and inequitable distribution of college information to parents. The report suggests eight steps that states, K-12 schools and districts, postsecondary institutions and systems, and the federal government can take to improve the transition from high school to college.
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Background and Context
In many states, recent legislation or gubernatorial priorities have focused attention on increasing access for high school students to post-secondary options. Small learning communities, advisory systems, individual learning plans, AP and IB classes, dual enrollment programs, exit exams, and the push to increase rigor of high school classes and graduation requirements are approaches states use to guide students through graduation and help them make successful transitions into college.
