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.
Learning Together: Academic Preparation for College
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > Overview & Tools
This tool is designed for school groups to learn together about preparing students for college-level work. The activities are designed to provide an introduction to the research-based...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together: Supporting Students in the Financial Aid Process
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > Overview & Tools
This workshop guide can be used to help school-based personnel understand how to support students in applying for and securing financial aid for college. Participants learn new strategies for...
Resource Type
Tool
College Application Planner
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > Overview & Tools
Teachers, counselors, and other school-based personnel can use this planning tool to track activities that facilitate students’ college application process. This tool can be useful in identifying...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together: Fostering College Aspirations
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > Overview & Tools
Professional development and technical assistance providers can use this tool to provide training to school and district personnel. This training can help participants develop an understanding of...
Resource Type
Tool
Planning Tool: Fostering College-Going Aspirations
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > Overview & Tools
Administrators can use this tool to refine the school’s approach to fostering college aspirations. This planner can help administrators identify new activities, steps for implementation, a...
Resource Type
Tool
Self-Assessment: Are You Fostering College-Going Aspirations?
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Foster College Aspirations > Overview & Tools
This tool is designed to help district and school leaders assess their processes for fostering college aspirations. The tool provides questions that highlight specific actions towards building a...
Resource Type
Tool
School Planner: Identifying College-Readiness Interventions
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > Overview & Tools
This planner can help administrators, principals, and teachers take stock of existing interventions that help students who are not on track for college and create additional interventions to...
Resource Type
Tool
Learning Together: Assessment and Intervention
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > Overview & Tools
This tool is designed for teachers, administrators, and counselors to learn together about the research-based recommendation to assess students for college readiness and get all students on track...
Resource Type
Tool
Identifying College-Readiness Assessments
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assess and Intervene > Overview & Tools
School leaders and teachers can use this self-assessment to reflect upon existing assessments that measure college readiness and to create additional assessments that address areas of college...
Resource Type
Tool
Freshman Course Planning Tool
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > Overview & Tools
This planning tool helps high school staff working with students to map out a four-year course trajectory so that when they graduate, they have taken the courses necessary for postsecondary education.
Resource Type
Tool
Teacher Self-Assessment: Rigor in the Classroom
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Prepare Students Academically > Overview & Tools
Teachers, or technical assistance providers who work with teachers, are encouraged to use this tool to reflect upon and increase the level of rigor in their classroom. Related Media and...
Resource Type
Tool
College Application Support Assessment Tool
Increasing Postsecondary Access > Assist with College Entry > Overview & Tools
District and school leaders can use this tool to conduct an assessment of the supports available to students for applying to college and for financial aid. The assessment can help schools identify...
Resource Type
Tool
