To ensure that more American students attend college and are prepared to participate in a global economy, secondary schools have increased academic rigor and raised standards. By emphasizing vertical alignment of courses from preschool through college, secondary schools can help close the expectation gap that exists between high school and college that leaves 30%-40% of students in remedial courses their first year of college. According to Michelle Asha Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, rigorous academic standards can work to increase college success--as long as they are coupled with other elements. "A rigorous curriculum can't be the only thing we focus on," she said. "We can't negate the social support students need as well as the financial support that is critical to so many students." She describes these three aspects--academic preparation, support structures, and the ability to pay for college--as a three-legged stool upon which college success relies.