College & Workforce Readiness Blog

High School & Beyond

Some of the biggest policy debates center on high school: college and career readiness, testing, dual enrollment, career-technical education, transitions to college and work. Veteran reporter Catherine Gewertz explored them all here. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: high schools, college & workforce readiness.

College & Workforce Readiness Does Higher Ed Really Pay Off? New Gates-Funded Commission Aims to Find Out
As the cost of college rises and students go deeper into debt, families are increasingly asking whether higher education is worth the cost. A new commission is tasked with helping to answer that question.
Catherine Gewertz, May 16, 2019
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Now There's a National 'Signing Day' for Career Programs
Starting today, students who choose careers in the skilled trades have a nationwide event designed to celebrate their decisions.
Catherine Gewertz, May 8, 2019
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness 4 Things You Need to Know About 'Free College' Proposals
"Free college" proposals are multiplying like rabbits as Democratic presidential candidates jump on board with the idea. But these plans vary widely. And most don't make college "free."
Catherine Gewertz, May 1, 2019
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Know a Young Person Looking For a Job? This New Initiative is For Them. And You.
A new national campaign aims to offer young people something they often lack as they look for work: a network of connections to adults who can help and support them.
Catherine Gewertz, April 11, 2019
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Is There a Mismatch Between Career-Tech Ed and Good Jobs?
Though celebrated as a way to funnel young people into good jobs without the debt of a bachelor's degree, career technical education is not matching students with jobs that pay well and are most plentiful, a report says.
Catherine Gewertz, April 3, 2019
4 min read
College & Workforce Readiness 140-Plus College Admissions Deans Pledge to Prioritize Service, Ethical Character
Deans of admission at more than 140 colleges and universities pledged to abide by principles designed to reduce "excessive achievement pressure" in admissions and promote ethical character among parents and students.
Catherine Gewertz, March 18, 2019
4 min read
College & Workforce Readiness College-Admissions Bribery Scheme Sparks First Round of Lawsuits
This week's huge college-admissions bribery scandal has spawned the first round of what will almost certainly be a mess of lawsuits attacking the integrity of the college admissions process. And already the first lawsuit, filed by two Stanford University students, has gotten weird.
Catherine Gewertz, March 15, 2019
4 min read
School & District Management Principals Dealing With Hostility and Division in the Age of Trump, Survey Shows
Most high school principals are grappling with hostile clashes between students and a swirl of other problems stemming from the political division and heated rhetoric during the Trump presidency, according to a new report.
Catherine Gewertz, March 13, 2019
8 min read
College & Workforce Readiness National College Fraud Scheme Highlights Flaws in Admissions Process
Federal prosecutors charged 33 parents, along with two SAT/ACT administrators, an exam proctor, nine coaches and three organizers with involvement in a college admissions fraud scheme on Tuesday.
Sasha Jones, March 12, 2019
5 min read
College & Workforce Readiness The SAT Makes Surprise Appearance in Michael Cohen/Trump Hearing
The former Trump attorney and fixer testifies that Trump directed him to write threatening letters to prevent the release of the president's grades and SAT scores.
Catherine Gewertz, February 27, 2019
2 min read
Curriculum Skipping 12th Grade? A New Report Suggests Allowing It
More than 850,000 students are ready for college work by the end of 11th grade, a new report finds. So why not let them finish high school and begin college studies full-time?
Catherine Gewertz, February 20, 2019
2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness What I Learned From Helping Students Build Résumé and Interview Skills
High school students often don't recognize the value employers might see in their life experiences. We, the adults in students' lives, have a role to play in helping them see and sell their strengths in job interviews.
Catherine Gewertz, February 13, 2019
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Students From Educated Families More Likely to Take Dual-Credit Courses
New data from the federal government show that dual-enrollment courses are an opportunity that's used disproportionately by white and Asian students, and students whose parents went to college.
Catherine Gewertz, February 5, 2019
3 min read
College & Workforce Readiness U.S. High School Grad Rate Reaches Another All-Time High. But What Does It Mean?
The U.S. high school graduation rate has risen yet again, to a new all-time high of 84.6 percent. But questions persist about what is driving the steady gain.
Catherine Gewertz, January 24, 2019
4 min read