While educational results have improved in many areas, a high percentage of North Carolina students are not graduating from high school, raising concerns about the state's ability to be economically competitive with other states and countries. All students need to attain the knowledge and skills necessary to be competitive and prosperous in the 21st century. On June 6, 2005, 26 North Carolina educational and policy leaders participated in the North Carolina Education Forum in Raleigh, to discuss ways to improve students' transitions from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum was sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the League for Innovation in the Community College and supported by the U.S. Department of Education. The forum focused on five outcomes: (1) decreased need for remediation at the postsecondary level; (2) increased enrollment and persistence in postsecondary education; (3) increased academic and technical achievement at the secondary and postsecondary levels; (4) increased attainment of postsecondary degrees, certificates or other recognized credentials; and (5) increased entry into employment or further education. This report organizes information from the forum by looking at how North Carolina fares in building transitions, what challenges it faces in improving transitions and what actions it can take to improve high school to college and career transitions. The following are appended: (1) HSTW goals for continuous improvement, key practices for improving student achievement, and recommended curriculum; and (2) Example Career Pathway Implementation Strategies. (Contains 1 figure and 98 notes.)