"Smoothing the Path" describes successful state-level strategies and policy lessons that have been learned in four states during the development of schools that integrate secondary and postsecondary education. Statewide efforts in the multi-year Early College High School Initiative, which began in Ohio and Utah in 2002 and in Texas and Georgia in 2004, show how the barriers are being addressed. Because implementing early college high schools requires coordination between secondary and postsecondary education policies, the cases also expose the systemic misalignment that must be addressed to improve the transition from high school to and through postsecondary education--independent of early college high schools themselves. In other words, the fledgling early college high school movement points to challenges states face in building more robust dual enrollment programs, expanding Advanced Placement opportunities, and promoting other approaches that integrate high school and college work. The case studies in "Smoothing the Path" present the first steps in a long-term agenda to align and integrate grades 9 through 14 so that students can move more seamlessly into postsecondary education. Two case studies look at changes in fiscal policy to support early college high schools; two address improvements in alignment across high school and college. "Smoothing the Path" also summarizes the advice the intermediaries would give to future early college high school developers: (1) Gain early support from key state leaders and stakeholders; (2) Coordinate P-16 education policies with the development of early college high schools; and (3) Make the case for financing integrated courses of study. Appendices include policies and regulations relating to early college high schools for Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. (Contains 12 endnotes.)