This publication explores how state accountability systems currently address college readiness and academic and technical career readiness and offers recommendations and examples of policies and practices that incentivize and reward districts and schools for preparing more students to earn credentials and degrees in high-demand career fields.

Goal 9 of twelve Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Challenge to Lead goals is that every school regardless of its student population, location or surrounding economic circumstances has a leader who can work with faculty to increase student learning. This report discusses progress toward this goal since 2002 in the 16 SREB states. It also is…

State accountability goals for high schools must give equal emphasis to raising standards and increasing the percentages of students entering grade nine and earning high school diplomas four years later. High school completion rates between 1988 and 2000 declined in all but eight states. Many high schools in states with declining graduation rates…