K-12, Higher Education Unite to Align Learning

Early connections with students key

The top education leaders in Minnesota are drafting a plan that aims to reinvent high school and align its mission with that of higher education.

For nearly a year, they have been working on a major proposal to better connect K-12 and higher education, with the goal of working earlier with students to ensure they are equipped with the skills and career direction needed for a productive life after high school.

The initiative, Redesigning the Transition from Secondary to Post-Secondary Education , is expected to be introduced in the legislative session that begins in January. It incorporates four main elements, starting with college- and career-readiness assessments in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. Once students are evaluated, interventions would be targeted to get those who are behind up to speed. Next, the proposal would expand opportunities for concurrent-enrollment programs. And finally, it would promote a better understanding of students' career interests, training to achieve their goals, and sharing of...