ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS INITIATIVE
Georgia Center for Opportunity’s College and Career Pathways Initiative is working to develop solutions that will help students stay in school, graduate from high school, and prepare for college and career success. From November 2013 to June 2014, Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) convened monthly meetings of education experts with diverse experience and perspectives to focus on identifying barriers to student success and solutions to remove those barriers. With the guidance of these experts, GCO is publishing reports and advocating for solutions that will help students graduate from high school prepared for the next stage in their lives, whether that is college or the beginning of a career.
WHY COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS?
Many of Georgia’s youth leave high school ill-prepared for college or employment. More than 1 in 5 young adults in Georgia are not attending school, not working, and have no degree beyond high school. Additionally, nearly 30 percent of students do not graduate from high school on time, placing Georgia 48th in the country. Of those who do attend a four-year college, nearly half do not graduate within six years. Failure to graduate or properly prepare for life after high school significantly lowers one’s future earnings, and high school dropouts are significantly more likely to use social services, be involved in the criminal justice system, and experience family breakdown.
WHY
COLLEGE & CAREER
PATHWAYS
BACKGROUND
GEORGIA GRADUATION RATES
OF THOSE WHO ATTEND A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE NEARLY HALF DO NOT GRADUATE IN 6 YEARS
OUR SOLUTIONS
Adopting Intrusive Advising Models
Adopting Student-based Budgeting System
Opening Online Schools
Allowing Independent Teacher Prep
Adopting Intrusive Advising Models
Opening Online Schools
Adopting Student-based Budgeting System
Allowing Independent Teacher Prep
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS REPORT
Fortifying Pathways: Themes to Guide College and Career Readiness in Georgia Published in December 2014, this report serves as an overview of the themes covered by GCO’s College and Career Pathways working group. It discusses the importance for Georgia to move away from big policy as a means of education reform, empower schools to take the reins of innovation and reform, and help students develop healthy habits through strong relational ties in order to see improved student achievement and preparedness.