The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Joint Initiatives with Higher Education to Promote College and Career Readiness
On January 28th, the Board held a special meeting at which Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland and I reviewed the joint initiatives we have undertaken to promote college and career readiness. On January 29th, the Boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education met in joint session to discuss the proposed common definition of college and career readiness and the possible next steps, including the adoption of the definition by each board at a future meeting. I am recommending that you vote at the February meeting to adopt the definition that has emerged. The Board of Higher Education is scheduled to vote on adoption of the definition in March.
Commissioner Freeland and I have worked to develop an integrated college and career readiness agenda that can be embraced by both the Boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education. This shared definition - which incorporates recommendations of the Board's Task Force on Integrating College and Career Readiness - is designed to align K-12 and higher education efforts by providing a common foundation on which to coordinate college and career readiness initiatives of the respective sectors.
This definition will provide a touchstone for each department as we move forward on issues related to MassCore, the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, and other joint projects, and will provide both agencies with a uniform definition of what the Commonwealth's students will require to be college and career ready. This definition signals a true partnership and common understanding between each sector regarding college and career readiness.
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