Readiness

College readiness is often thought of as academic preparation for college-level coursework, but academic preparation that prioritizes decontextualized content and standardized test knowledge attainment is not enough for student success in postsecondary education. 

“Those who do not arrive at college fully prepared are significantly less likely to progress beyond entry-level courses, as witnessed by the high failure rates in these courses and the high dropout rate among freshman students.” – Dr. David T. Conley in Redefining College Readiness

In today’s world, students must be engaged, lifelong learners. Success skills such as grit and sense of self and cognitive strategies such as critical thinking and problem-solving enable students to navigate and overcome difficulties in their postsecondary life and be more active and effective learners in the classroom and on the job. In addition, engaged families and student support networks, strong and equitable advising systems, career exploration, challenging dual credit opportunities, and strong learning school cultures are important factors that have been shown to impact student success in postsecondary education. 

In this section, learn more about PSCCN and other regional efforts to support capacity building amongst systems, educators and families so that students are more prepared for college and career.