For Immediate Release: February 18, 2016
Contact: Renee Rybak Lang, renee.lang@nasbe.org, 703-740-4841

Washington and Idaho Model Better Programs Preparing High School Graduates for Future

Alexandria, VA – Almost every state has adopted rigorous standards to ensure students are prepared for college and careers, but few dedicate resources to ensure students learn about postsecondary options. A new NASBE policy update highlights two state boards of education—Washington and Idaho—that have proactively sought to prepare students better for continuing their educations after high school. The report suggests ways other states can improve school counseling programs and readiness standards to expand college and career awareness.

The Idaho State Board of Education’s initiatives include a personalized academic counseling program beginning in eighth grade and blanket acceptance of its high school seniors at public postsecondary institutions in the state.

Washington’s state board created strong college awareness standards to help the state’s students learn about the full range of their postsecondary options.

“While not every student must attend college to attain postsecondary success, every student needs to set postsecondary goals,” writes the author, Sarah-Jane Lorenzo. “State boards are in a powerful position to augment their states’ college readiness standards with college awareness initiatives.”

Read “Beyond College Readiness: College Awareness as a First Step.”

The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. Our principal objectives are to strengthen state leadership in education policymaking, advocate equality of access to educational opportunity, promote excellence in the education of all students, and ensure responsible lay governance of education. Learn more at www.nasbe.org.

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