Increasing Postsecondary Access
Explore resources designed to help educators to support students successfully navigate the path to college. 
- View a visual diagram of all five practices
- Watch a topic overview and download planning templates
- Listen to an expert
Explore the subtopics below to learn more about the recommended practices:
- Prepare Students Academically
- Assess and Intervene
- Foster College Aspirations
- Assist with College Entry
To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do.
Linking High School and College Assessments
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > See How It Works
Hear how a state ties its eleventh-grade standardized test to its college system's expectations for incoming freshmen. Students who perform at college level are exempt from placement testing in the...
Resource Type
School Example
Assigning Students to the Right Classes
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
A counseling department chair talks about her high school's process for scheduling students in academic classes that will prepare them for college. Counselors use such tools like the sample...
Resource Type
School Example
A Personalized Learning Experience
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > See How It Works
A high school principal and literacy coach describe the multiple forms of assessment they use to build a profile of college readiness. They also describe the ways they provide support for students...
Resource Type
School Example
Getting Students to Think for Themselves
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
An English teacher illustrates the ways that his high school incorporates rigor into its curriculum. The sample materials, One High School's Reading List and Using Literature Circles for Reading...
Resource Type
School Example
Gateways for College Readiness
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > See How It Works
Hear a principal and teacher describe the gateway process students must complete in order to graduate high school. Data from student assessment results are also analyzed at an indicator level to...
Resource Type
School Example
Overcoming Fears Around Paying for College
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > See How It Works
This school coordinator discusses strategies for conducting activities to help students and their families prepare for the financial aspects of college. Workshops help students know how to apply...
Resource Type
School Example
Walking Students Through the Application Process
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > See How It Works
A high school teacher explains the purpose of the College Summit class. View the College Seminar Class Syllabus, College Preparation Checklist, and Parent Flyers to learn more about this class and...
Resource Type
School Example
Research Review Assignment
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
As a major component of instruction, teachers at University Park Campus School (UPCS) purposefully create assignments that require students to think critically. The video, Getting Students to Think...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Algebra Investigation
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
This assignment asks students to utilize their own problem solving and logic skills to determine the Pythagorean Theorem using paper cutouts. The video, Preparing Students for Rigorous Work,...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Middle School Tracking Template
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
This template helps middle school students develop the skills they need to succeed in a rigorous high school curriculum. Watch the video, Preparing Students for Rigorous Work, which explains...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Graduation Notification/Agreement and Notification for Not Meeting Requirements
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
See how counselors document each student to ensure they are on track for graduation and communicate with parents. The interview, Placing Value on Doing Well Academically, emphasizes the school's...
Resource Type
Sample Material
The Senior Year: Smoothing the Transition to College
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > See How It Works
This document summarizes the changes one high school made to their senior year program to better prepare graduates for college success. Watch Senior Year Redesign to learn more about the school's...
Resource Type
Sample Material
