Paper Thin? Why All High School Diplomas Are Not Created Equal

This webinar focused on a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education, "Paper Thin? Why All High School Diplomas Are Not Created Equal." The report analyzes the degree to which traditionally underserved students graduate from high school having earned a college- and career-ready diploma in comparison with their peers for the Class of 2014. The analysis reveals that while many states offer students multiple pathways to a diploma, not all pathways align with college- and career-ready expectations.

 Paper Thin?

Why All High School Diplomas Are Not Created Equal

Panelists

Monica Almond, PhD, Senior Associate of Policy Development and Government Relations, Alliance for Excellent Education

@MonicaRAlmond

Jeanne Fauci, Executive Director, Center for Powerful Public Schools

@JeanneFauci

@4PowerfulEdOrg 

Patrick McAlister, Director of Policy, Indiana Department of Education

@mcalistp

Valerie Wilson, PhD, Director of Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy, Economic Policy Institute

@ValerieRWilson

@EconomicPolicy

Gov. Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education

@BobWise48

As the nation’s high school graduation rate continues to rise, questions around the level of preparedness that students attain to enter and succeed in postsecondary education persist. Ensuring students graduate with course work that aligns with college and career expectations is essential to ensure that more students graduate prepared to tackle the rigor that postsecondary learning demands.

The Alliance for Excellent Education has explored rising high school graduation rates and low levels of postsecondary readiness among traditionally underserved students in its report, Paper Thin? Why All High School Diplomas Are Not Created Equal. The report, released on July 27, analyzes the degree to which traditionally underserved students graduate from high school having earned a college- and career-ready diploma in comparison with their peers for the Class of 2014. The analysis reveals that while many states offer students multiple pathways to a diploma, not all pathways align with college- and career-ready expectations.

During this webinar, panelists

discussed key findings from the newly released report;
highlighted state and local policies that support a college- and career-ready agenda for all students;
discussed the economic implications for traditionally underserved students;
discussed how Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plans can reflect a college- and career-ready accountability measure; and
provided recommendations that states and local school districts can take to ensure more students are graduating from high school ready for college and a career.

Panelists also addressed questions from the online audience.

Support for this webinar is provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Additional Materials:

Dr. Almond’s Presentation
Jeanne Fauci’s Presentation
Dr. Wilson’s Presentation

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