What It Does
Updates high school graduation requirements to better align with the minimum requirements for admission into a local public institution of higher education, and offers simplified college admissions processes (like direct admission of qualified students) to streamline the process.
Why It Matters
Too many high school students work hard to complete their required coursework and earn their diplomas, only to find out they’re not eligible to enroll at their local public college or university. Even eligible, qualified high school students don’t always make it through the maze of requirements needed for admission. One in four starts a college application but never submits it—a problem that is more pronounced for students with the least resources.
The mismatch between what it takes to graduate high school and what it takes to get into college leaves many prospective students behind for no good reason. A high school diploma should reflect that a student has completed a rigorous course of study that prepares them for the next phase of their life, including higher education.
Every student who earns a high school diploma should be confident that they have done what it takes to get into—and succeed in—college.
To meet the criteria for this policy action, state high school diploma requirements must:
Align with the minimum college entrance/eligibility requirements for the state’s flagship institution of higher education based on course requirements
OR
The state has adopted a direct admissions program that:
Provides proactive notification to students of admission
Includes participation of multiple 4-year institutions
Does not limit eligibility to top-performing students; and
Is available to all public high schools.
Download our frontier guide to see what the gold standard looks like for this policy action.
