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.
Setting Your Direction
Increasing Postsecondary Access > States and Districts
All middle and high school students in Albuquerque Public Schools develop Next Step Plans and participate in student-led conferences to set the direction for their postsecondary plans. Listen to a...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
A District-Level Mission to Improve College Access
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > See How It Works, Increasing Postsecondary Access > States and Districts
Listen to district administrators discuss how they support schools to improve college access by monitoring schools, meeting with school administrators on a regular basis, and helping schools use...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
Increasing Postsecondary Access: Key Recommendations From the IES Practice Guide
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Overview & Tools
Dr. William G. Tierney, chair of the IES panel that developed the Practice Guide, Helping Students Navigate the Path to College, explains its recommended practices and offers considerations for...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
Visual Diagram: Helping Students Navigate the Path to College
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Overview & Tools
This diagram illustrates four research-based practices recommended for increasing postsecondary access for all students. Technical assistance providers can use the diagram to give an overview of...
Resource Type
Visual Diagram
Getting Students in the Right Spot
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > See How It Works
Listen to a high school dean of instruction discuss how the school ensures that students get the help needed to find the right postsecondary options. Teachers and administrators give students...
Resource Type
School Example
Academic After-School Clubs
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > See How It Works
Hear how one high school provides academic experiences after school that support a college-going culture. A principal and a counselor describe how their after-school clubs and tutoring support...
Resource Type
School Example
Looking Ahead: Career Explorations
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > See How It Works
A college liaison and internship coordinator describe programs and opportunities that prepare students for success after high school. By participating in internships and job shadows, students begin...
Resource Type
School Example
Campus Visits: Helping Students Envision Their Future
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > See How It Works
Listen to two high school administrators describe the importance and benefits of the required college trip. The college trip is an opportunity for students to be exposed to different types of...
Resource Type
School Example
The Right Fit for Ninth Graders
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > See How It Works
Hear a high school dean of instruction explain how administrators use middle school data to determine course placements for incoming freshmen. They try to gain a complete picture of each ninth...
Resource Type
School Example
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
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
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