The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to identify schools with struggling students for comprehensive, additional targeted, or targeted support and improvement (CSI, ATS, or TSI respectively). States must identify schools for CSI when the whole school is among the bottom 5 percent of Title I schools in the state. Meanwhile, they…

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states are responsible for setting the minimum number of students needed to form a student subgroup for federal accountability and reporting purposes. This required student subgroup size is commonly referred to as the state-set "n-size." The accountability n-size affects action by influencing…

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) reauthorizes and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV). Perkins V includes several provisions designed to ensure that career and technical education (CTE) programs meet the demands of the twenty-first-century economy.…

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) gives states greater flexibility to set performance levels in their accountability systems for career and technical education (CTE) programs. But it requires states to prioritize the performance of historically underserved students in those systems and involve…

This fact sheet finds that most states are shirking their responsibilities around two of ESSA's most important provisions for historically underserved groups of students: including student subgroups in school ratings and the definitions used to identify schools for targeted support. Is your state one of them?

This policy guide, created in partnership with the College in High School Alliance, Everyone Graduates Center, Linked Learning Alliance, and National College Attainment Network, encourages state and district leaders to use federal coronavirus relief funds to improve college access and success, especially for students who are historically…

On July 31, 2018, President Trump signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) into law. The law reauthorizes and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) to ensure career and technical education (CTE) programs meet the demands of the twenty-first-century…

In the upcoming reconciliation bill, the U.S. Congress is urged to address the substantial decline in college enrollment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic by: (1) expanding access to dual enrollment programs as part of free community college packages; and (2) expanding and investing in activities to support students' transition from high school…

Top-performing countries across the globe set clear academic gateways that students must pass through during their primary and secondary school years. These gateways mark levels of achievement that, cumulatively, prepare students for gainful careers and/or postsecondary education. This fact sheet suggests ways that state and district leaders can…

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 supports states in implementing high-quality assessments by providing new assessment flexibility, funding, and a new pilot program. These new policies will support teachers in using assessments to foster deeper learning among students, including the ability to master core academic content, think…

The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) provides a critical opportunity to eliminate race- and income-based disparities in college preparation, enrollment, persistence, and completion. The Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) believes that these disparities are caused, at least in part, by inequities at the high school level…

Equipping all students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and enter the twenty-first-century job market is fundamental to the current K-12 education system. Unfortunately, many of today's high schools are not providing students with an engaging experience that is relevant to the workforce and that integrates…

Completing additional education after high school has nearly become a prerequisite for a stable career and middle-class income. Yet the total cost of higher education continues to climb, increasing 31 percent at public institutions and 24 percent at private nonprofit institutions in ten years. Consequently, student loans will remain a reality for…

More than one-third of all first-year college students take some type of remedial course work and for historically underserved students, this number can be much higher. While remedial education strives to help students attain the skills they need to succeed in college, it also can deter completion by adding to the cost and time necessary to earn a…

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, states are accountable for focusing resources on low-performing schools and traditionally underserved students who consistently demonstrate low academic performance. State Goals and Accountability Systems States are required to establish long-term goals for, at minimum, student achievement, high…