This author states that too many young people who graduate from high school and enter postsecondary education are ill prepared, and their chances for success in college are diminished significantly. The disconnect of academic expectations between postsecondary education and K-12 is one of the primary reasons for the poor preparation of so many high school graduates. The American Diploma Project (ADP), led by Achieve in partnership with the Education Trust and the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, was launched in 2002 to conduct research and policy analysis that could help states improve preparation for postsecondary education and careers. This article summarizes key ADP research findings as well as its experience in working with more than 30 states to translate research into action.