Who assists students on their journey to and through college and career, and how can they work together to build better systems of support?
Counselors & College Access Organizations / K-12 Staff / Higher Education Staff / Families / Peers / Employers & Community-based Organizations / Policymakers / Funders & Intermediaries
Policymakers
State and federal policymakers set rules that govern financial aid, high school graduation requirements, and opportunities for students to engage in early college and career opportunities, but a patchwork of state policies and political polarization nationally have been impediments to widespread adoption of successful initiatives.
“I want policymakers to understand: The outcome is more important than the process. Data are just numbers. Don't focus just on data, but add some qualitative understanding to improve decision-making.” —Student
Common Pitfalls That Policymakers Face
- Lack of political will among elected officials.
- Competing draws on limited financial resources.
- Divided electorate.
Mindset Shifts to Help Policymakers Better Target Their Support
- Champion accountability for student success in navigating toward college and careers and for the system as a whole.
- Listen to the concerns and stories of students and families.
- Listen to K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, and community-based and college-access organizations to understand the challenges they face and their existing capacity to address those challenges.
Opportunities to Build a More Coherent System in Concert with Adults
- Lead or coordinate systemwide actions that individual organizations are not capable of undertaking.
- Hold other actors accountable for collaborating with each other.
- Inspire communities to align around policies that promote student success.
Further Reading
- View a complete list of concrete recommendations for policymakers here.
