Tools & resources
Tools & ResourcesInitiatives at all levels and in various areas — from expanded early warning systems to revised guidance approaches to collaborations with local business, non-profits, and colleges — have yielded insights of tremendous benefit to others exploring similar initiatives.
Here we provides curated lists of resources on this website most likely to interest you, depending on the role you play to support young people’s pathways to adult success. Resources are also organized by PAS’ four drivers.
Roles include: State Leaders, District Leaders, School Leaders, Teachers, Counselors/Staff, Higher Education, Nonprofits, and Business Leaders.
- HOME
- State Leaders
- District Leaders
- School Leaders
- Teachers
- Counselors & Staff
- Higher Education
- Non Profits
- Business Leaders
Click on a labeled tab to review the available tools & resources. All the resources are avilable to download. Simply click on the resource title to download.
TAB TOPICS
Click on a link to review resources.
- FOUNDATIONS FOR HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED
- STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS
- USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
- DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE CAREER PROGRAM
FOUNDATIONS FOR HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many states have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps leaders identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Start Something Viable. To gain stakeholder support and build momentum, it helps to set achievable goals that will lead to early wins. This How-to identifies issues to consider in making those decisions.
Data Systems. Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
Massachusetts DESE. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes one state’s journey to develop and promote a robust statewide indicator system that empowers educators to support all students on the pathway to adult success.
STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of school systems meeting this challenge.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed.
USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Data Systems. Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
Massachusetts DESE. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes one state’s journey to develop and promote a robust statewide indicator system that empowers educators to support all students on the pathway to adult success.
DEVELOPING A STATEWIDE CAREER PROGRAM
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust statewide Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers links to information on some of the ways that states have achieved this goal.
Advance CTE is a nonprofit organization supporting improvements in career technical education (CTE) pathways at the state level. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its New Skills for Youth initiative with ten vanguard states to identify and promote best practices in providing high quality career pathways.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes how Indiana’s third largest school district worked with local businesses, using a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
TAB TOPICS
Click on a link to review resources.
- GETTING STARTED
- EWS 2.0
- PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
- HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE OPTIONS
- BUILDING CAREER AWARENESS
- DEVELOPING COLLABORATIONS
- USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
GETTING STARTED
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps leaders identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Start Something Viable. To gain stakeholder support and build momentum, it helps to set achievable goals that will lead to early wins. This How-to identifies issues to consider in making those decisions.
Build Buy-in. The commitment of leaders and stakeholders to support all students’ postsecondary success leads to development of a vision and goals, and then to investment of resources: personnel and funding. This How-to offers some guidance for making that buy-in a reality.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
Data Systems. Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
EWS 2.0
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many districts have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Ensuring a Data System is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of school systems meeting this challenge.
Academic Supports. Supporting all students for success in a robust academic course allows them to develop the skills needed to realize their potential and pursue a viable postsecondary pathway. This How-to shows the way and provides resources and models.
The PAS in Action Snapshots listed below showcase ways districts around the country–and their partners–are helping prepare students for future success.
San Jose Unified School District. The SJUSD focused on two major objectives: ensuring more students were successful in courses required for eligibility to attend a state university, and identifying and supporting more students to take AP courses that offered them college-level credits and experience.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This Snapshot describes how the third largest school district in Indiana worked with local businesses to use a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
The CORE Districts, eight urban California school districts, identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE OPTIONS
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
The CORE Districts are eight urban California school districts. This PAS in Action Snapshot explains how they identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
BUILDING CAREER AWARENESS
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers links to information on best practices to achieve this goal.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes how the third largest school district in Indiana worked with local businesses to use a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed.
DEVELOPING COLLABORATIONS
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Volunteers of America, Southeast. This PAS in Action Snapshot explores the Helping Families Initiative, a unique collaboration between Alabama school districts and district attorneys to address root problems and help students and their families thrive.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a Kentucky regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed.
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers guidance on building collaborations to promote this goal.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes how Indiana’s third largest school district worked with local businesses, using a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
Collaborating to Support Student Health and Wellness. Underresourced communities face significant disparities in health and wellness that undermine students’ ability to succeed. This How-to provides a glimpse into the emerging field of school/health and wellness partnerships.
USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system toimprove high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Westat San Antonio is a national firm working with government agencies, foundations, and other non-profits to evaluate educational policies and practices that serve children and young people, breaking down silos to work with multiple data sources. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases two recent projects.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
The CORE Districts are eight urban California school districts. This PAS in Action Snapshot explains how they identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Baltimore City Schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot features City Schools’ new “dynamic dashboard,” updated in real time to provide current information on students’ progress toward graduation and college-readiness–and the data team’s outreach to increase dashboard use and make it as user-friendly as possible.
TAB TOPICS
Click on a link to review resources.
- GETTING STARTED
- EWS 2.0
- PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
- HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE OPTIONS
- BUILDING CAREER AWARENESS
- DEVELOPING COLLABORATIONS
- USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
GETTING STARTED
Teams. Organizing school adults into teams that meet regularly to identify and support students at risk is an essential component of early warning systems. Find PAS workgroup recommendations on creating effective school teams here.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Transition from Grad-focused EWS. Many states have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps leaders identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Start Something Viable. To gain stakeholder support and build momentum, it helps to set achievable goals that will lead to early wins. This How-to identifies issues to consider in making those decisions.
Build Buy-in. The commitment of leaders and stakeholders to support all students’ postsecondary success leads to development of a vision and goals, and then to investment of resources: personnel and funding. This How-to offers some guidance for making that buy-in a reality.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
EWS 2.0
Transition from Grad-focused EWS. Many states have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps leaders identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Data Systems: Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of school systems meeting this challenge.
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Academic Supports. Supporting all students for success in a robust academic course allows them to develop the skills needed to realize their potential and pursue a viable postsecondary pathway. This How-to shows the way and provides resources and models.
San Jose Unified School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes the SJUSD’s efforts focused on two major objectives: ensuring more students were successful in courses required foreligiblity to attend a state university, and identifying and supporting more students to take AP courses that offered them college-level credits and experiences.
The CORE Districts, eight urban California school districts, identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This Snapshot describes how the third largest school district in Indiana worked with local businesses to use a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE OPTIONS
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Postsecondary Guidance helps students identify interests and aptitudes, learn about career and academic opportunities, and select courses they need to take. This How-to offers suggestions for expanding the pool of available adults so all students can get the guidance they need.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers links to information on best practices to achieve this goal.
Navigation Supports.The complexity of the steps required to identify postsecondary options, submit applications, obtain financial aid, and enroll is a major hurdle to poor and minority students, and those who will be the first in their families to attend college. This How-to provides direction on how schools can help them through the maze.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
BUILDING CAREER AWARENESS
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
Advance CTE is a nonprofit organization supporting improvements in career technical education (CTE) pathways. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its New Skills for Youth initiative with ten vanguard states to identify and promote best practices in providing high quality career pathways.
DEVELOPING COLLABORATIONS
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers guidance on building collaborations to promote this goal.
Collaboration for Health and Wellness. Underresourced communities face significant disparities in health and wellness that undermine students’ ability to succeed. This How-to provides a glimpse into the emerging field of school/health and wellness partnerships.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system toimprove high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Data Systems. Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Metro Nashville Public Schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases a district data team’s initiative to use state longitudinal data to identify indicators of career success for students who choose alternative postsecondary pathways.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
GETTING STARTED
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of school systems meeting this challeng.
Academic Supports. Supporting all students for success in a robust academic course allows them to develop the skills needed to realize their potential and pursue a viable postsecondary pathway. This How-to shows the way and provides resources and models.
Teams. Organizing school adults into teams that meet regularly to identify and support students at risk is an essential component of early warning systems. Find PAS workgroup recommendations on creating effective school teams here.
Root Cause Analysis. This section offers PAS EWS 2.0 workgroup recommendations for analyzing root causes of student indicators and determining effective strategies to address them, so that students are empowered to make progress toward postsecondary success.
Standards for Actions. PAS EWS 2.0 workgroup recommendations for effective actions to support students, whether individually or as subgroups with common indicators.
TAB TOPICS
Click on a link to review resources.
ORGANIZING ADULTS
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Teams. Organizing school adults into teams that meet regularly to identify and support students at risk is an essential component of early warning systems. Find PAS workgroup recommendations on creating effective school teams here.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
Root Cause Analysis. This section offers PAS EWS 2.0 workgroup recommendations for analyzing root causes of student indicators and determining effective strategies to address them, so that students are empowered to make progress toward postsecondary success.
Standards for Actions. PAS EWS 2.0 workgroup recommendations for effective actions to support students, whether individually or as subgroups with common indicators.
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Collaborating to Support Student Health and Wellness. Underresourced communities face significant disparities in health and wellness that undermine students’ ability to succeed. This How-to provides a glimpse into the emerging field of school/health and wellness partnerships.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
DIRECTLY SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many schools have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of schools meeting this challenge.
Academic Supports. Supporting all students for success in a robust academic course allows them to develop the skills needed to realize their potential and pursue a viable postsecondary pathway. This How-to shows the way and provides resources and models.
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Postsecondary Guidance helps students identify interests and aptitudes, learn about career and academic opportunities, and select courses they need to take. This How-to offers suggestions for expanding the pool of available adults so all students can get the guidance they need.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers links to information on best practices to achieve this goal.
Navigation Supports.The complexity of the steps required to identify postsecondary options, submit applications, obtain financial aid, and enroll is a major hurdle to poor and minority students, and those who will be the first in their families to attend college. This How-to provides direction on how schools can help them through the maze.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
The CORE Districts are eight urban California school districts. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how they identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
GETTING STARTED
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Advance CTE is a nonprofit organization supporting improvements in career technical education (CTE) pathways at the state level. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its New Skills for Youth initiative with ten vanguard states to identify and promote best practices in providing high quality career pathways.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
National Louis University. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes a historic institution’s shift to develop a four-year nonresidential undergraduate program offering robust academic and career-focused support to help under-prepared students graduating from Chicago public schools achieve college success.
ACADEMIC AND NAVIGATION SUPPORTS
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Academic Supports. Supporting all students for success in a robust academic course allows them to develop the skills needed to realize their potential and pursue a viable postsecondary pathway. This How-to shows the way and provides resources and models.
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Postsecondary Guidance helps students identify interests and aptitudes, learn about career and academic opportunities, and select courses they need to take. This How-to offers suggestions for expanding the pool of available adults so all students can get the guidance they need.
Navigation Supports.The complexity of the steps required to identify postsecondary options, submit applications, obtain financial aid, and enroll is a major hurdle to poor and minority students, and those who will be the first in their families to attend college. This How-to provides direction on how supportive adults can help them through the maze.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways to help.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
SEL / LIFE SKILLS SUPPORTS
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Develop Life and Social Skills. Helping students gain the social and life skills they need to interact with others, set goals, and overcome adversity can play a key role in preparing them for adult success. This How-to page offers not only guidance, but real-life examples of schools meeting this challenge.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways to help.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
Volunteers of America, Southeast. This PAS in Action Snapshot explores the Helping Families Initiative, a unique collaboration between Alabama school districts and district attorneys to address root problems and help students and their families thrive.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORTS
Collaboration for Health and Wellness. Underresourced communities face significant disparities in health and wellness that undermine students’ ability to succeed. This How-to provides a glimpse into the emerging field of school/health and wellness partnerships.
Berea Partners for Education is a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
GETTING STARTED
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers guidance on building collaborations to promote this goal.
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
Advance CTE is a nonprofit organization supporting improvements in career technical education (CTE) pathways. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its New Skills for Youth initiative with ten vanguard states to identify and promote best practices in providing high quality career pathways.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes how the third largest school district in Indiana worked with local businesses to use a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
The resources in this section are curated by each of the four PAS Framework Components.
- Student Success Systems
- Postsecondary Navigation
- Cross-Sector Collaborations
- Data
Click on a labeled tab to review the available tools & resources. All the resources are avilable to download. Simply click on the resource title to download.
Early Warning Systems is the heart of the PAS framework. It allows schools to monitor students’ pathways using specific indicators of progress, to gather and analyze data, and to make decisions to provide more support for students to graduate from school prepared for adult success.
TAB TOPICS
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EWS Framework
Early Warning Systems (EWS) using predictive indicators of student success were developed in the first decade of the century and focused on dropout prevention and raising high school graduation rates. Learn More about EWS Framework
EWS Key Elements
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- Building EWS Data Systems
- Standards for Predictive Indicators
- Analysis/Root Causes and Strategic Actions
- Standards for Actions
- The Roles of School/District Leaders and Teams
Partner & Workgroup Resources
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many districts have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Ensuring a Data System is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Gresham-Barlow School District. This PAS in Action Snapshot tells how one district is strengthening teacher teams and developing career awareness from kindergarten up to improve its students’ opportunities for future success.
Transition from Grad-focused EWS. Many states have adopted some form of early warning system to improve high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Determine Current Postsecondary Outcomes. To articulate goals and set priorities, it’s important to assess current outcomes for students overall and by demographic subgroups. This How-to offers suggestions for using data to begin that process.
Bring an Equity Lens. This How-to helps leaders identify and address disparities in student opportunities and outcomes based on such factors as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.
Data Systems: Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
EWS & On-Track Resources
Here we offer a curated selection of practical guidance and training materials on how to implement early warning and on-track systems to enable greater high school graduation and postsecondary success outcomes for all students. Learn More EWS & On-Track Resources
Attendance, behavior, and course performance are all strongly influenced by students and teachers experiences of school agency, belonging, and connectedness. Learn More
The GRAD Partnership for Student Success
~ Patricia Balana, GRAD Partnership; Jenny Scala, AIR; and Tara Madden, Talent Development Secondary
~ Presentation PDF
Click on a labeled tab to review the available tools & resources. All the resources are avilable to download. Simply click on the resource title to download.
Click on the link below to review the information.
- How to Provide Academic Supports to Increase Postsecondary Readiness
- How To Provide Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities for Students
- How to Provide Postsecondary Guidance
- How to Develop Life and Social Skills for Adult Success
- How to Provide Postsecondary Navigation Supports
- How to Develop Viable Career Pathways within Middle and High School Programs
- How to Support Students Between the End of School and Postsecondary Options
Many types of experiences, expectations, and supports are required to help students to make the transition from elementary and secondary school into postsecondary success. Learn More.
HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE OPTIONS
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed, using four key strategies to have a major impact on young people and their families and communities.
The CORE Districts are eight urban California school districts. This PAS in Action Snapshot explains how they identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
Postsecondary Exposure Opportunities. Exposure to a variety of career options and institutions of higher education is essential to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make informed choices. This How-to offers guidance and real-life examples for schools at every level.
Postsecondary Guidance helps students identify interests and aptitudes, learn about career and academic opportunities, and select courses they need to take. This How-to offers suggestions for expanding the pool of available adults so all students can get the guidance they need.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers links to information on best practices to achieve this goal.
Navigation Supports.The complexity of the steps required to identify postsecondary options, submit applications, obtain financial aid, and enroll is a major hurdle to poor and minority students, and those who will be the first in their families to attend college. This How-to provides direction on how schools can help them through the maze.
Postsecondary Transition Supports. Even students who have a postsecondary plan often need support to navigate financial and administrative hurdles in the months between graduating high school and beginning college or other postsecondary training. This How-to offers suggestions for ways K-12 schools and two- or four-year colleges can help.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
The PAS workgroups have discovered a navigation system that provides equitable opportunities for all students have these characteristics. The recommendations developed explore these essential facets of the navigation system. While some can be implemented by schools and districts, many require collaborations to bring them to life.
Download Recommendation 1 Toolkit
Download Recommendation 2 Toolkit
Download Recommendation 3 Toolkit
Download Recommendation 4 Toolkit
Download Complete Navigation Toolkit
Helping Students Develop Social Capital to Enhance Adult Success
Promoting developmental relationships with adults that help students develop social capital to open doors to adult success
Presenters: Dave Calhoun and Juli Coleman, CORE Districts, CA
Download the Presentation Materials (PDF): Helping Students Develop Social Capital to Enhance Adult Success
Click on a labeled tab to review the available tools & resources. All the resources are avilable to download. Simply click on the resource title to download.
Collaboration should involve a reciprocal process in which schools and other partners engage families in meaningful and culturally appropriate ways, and families take initiative to actively support their children’s development and learning.
TAB TOPICS
Click a link below to review the resources.
HOW-TO GUIDES
- How to Collaborate with Businesses and Potential Employers
- How to Collaborate in Support of Student Health and Wellness
- How to Develop Collaborations with Service and Support Organizations
- How to Develop Collaborations with Institutions of Higher Education
- How to Develop Data-Based Collaborations
DEVELOPING COLLABORATIONS
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
Volunteers of America, Southeast. This PAS in Action Snapshot explores the Helping Families Initiative, a unique collaboration between Alabama school districts and district attorneys to address root problems and help students and their families thrive.
Berea Partners for Education. This PAS in Action Snapshot profiles a Kentucky regional organization with a long history of raising rural students’ aspirations and nurturing in them the skills they need to succeed.
Collaborating with Businesses. Collaboration between educators and potential employers helps to ensure students receive the education and training they need for the career opportunities available. This How-to offers a practical introduction and links to real-life success stories.
Career Pathways. One strategy to help students attain postsecondary success and strengthen their communities of origin is to develop a robust Career and Technical Education program. This How-to offers guidance on building collaborations to promote this goal.
Evansville-Vanderburgh. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes how Indiana’s third largest school district worked with local businesses, using a statewide career readiness framework to provide students viable career pathways beyond the traditional four-year college trajectory.
Collaborating to Support Student Health and Wellness. Underresourced communities face significant disparities in health and wellness that undermine students’ ability to succeed. This How-to provides a glimpse into the emerging field of school/health and wellness partnerships.
Collaborating with Service and Support Organizations. Few, if any, school districts have the resources to address students’ and their families’ many needs. This How-to provides examples and guidelines for strong partnerships between school systems and non-profit, for-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that share their vision to help students succeed.
New Visions supports multiple New York City public schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases its College Advising Pilot, helping schools create systems that provide all students the advising they need to graduate with a firm transition plan toward college enrollment and persistence.
Various types of collaborations are useful in different contexts and situations. A one-size-fits-all template for collaborations is rarely successful. We outline several important stages and recommendations for developing effective collaborations to support young people’s pathways toward adult success.
Download Recommendation 1 Toolkit
Download Recommendation 2 Toolkit
Download Recommendation 3 Toolkit
Helping Students Help Students: A Collaborative Mentoring Model
~ Sara Benson, Peer Power, TN
~ Presentation PDF
Click on a labeled tab to review the available tools & resources. All the resources are avilable to download. Simply click on the resource title to download.
HOW-TO GUIDES
Click on the link below to review the information.
- How to Ensure a Data System is Useful and Usable
- How To Find Out What the Current Postsecondary Outcomes Are
- How to Set Up Data-Sharing Agreements with Partners
USING DATA TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Click on the link below to review the information.
Data Systems. Recommendations developed by the PAS workgroup on building data systems to support EWS for postsecondary success.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Standards for Predictive Indicators. PAS workgroup-generated guidance on identifying valid Indicators that are predictive of students’ likelihood of achieving success after graduation, and on which educators can have a meaningful impact.
Massachusetts DESE. This PAS in Action Snapshot describes one state’s journey to develop and promote a robust statewide indicator system that empowers educators to support all students on the pathway to adult success.
Transition from a Grad-Focused EWS. Many school systems have adopted some form of early warning system toimprove high school graduation rates. This How-to section provides guidance on shifting the focus of student supports to preparation for success in college or a career.
Ensuring a Data Sytem is Useful and Usable. Data systems to support student success must be accurate, flexible, constantly up to date, and easy to use. This How-to provides links to valuable tools and resources to help ensure that your system meets these criteria.
Westat San Antonio is a national firm working with government agencies, foundations, and other non-profits to evaluate educational policies and practices that serve children and young people, breaking down silos to work with multiple data sources. This PAS in Action Snapshot showcases two recent projects.
Panorama Ed designs data tools that provide a panoramic view of student success, helping schools and districts identify trends and intervene effectively to improve students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
The CORE Districts are eight urban California school districts. This PAS in Action Snapshot explains how they identified predictive indicators for college success and used them to design a student-friendly report that helps young people know where they stand and exercise agency in postsecondary preparation.
Baltimore City Schools. This PAS in Action Snapshot features City Schools’ new “dynamic dashboard,” updated in real time to provide current information on students’ progress toward graduation and college-readiness–and the data team’s outreach to increase dashboard use and make it as user-friendly as possible.
The Everyone Graduates Center Pathways to Adult Success project has compiled training materials, real-life examples, and research foundations for a variety of topics, and organized them to create a place where educators and researchers can find the resources they need to develop and promote new initiatives.
Since its inception, PAS has held annual conferences brining together partners and educators. Each conference featured a series of presentation on a vide-array of topics. You can view these presentation as well as available materials for free download.
Every Student Connected: Building Bridges to Countless Opportunities
TOPICS:
- BREAKOUT SESSION I: K12 STUDENT EXPOSURE TO & AWARENESS OF POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS
- BREAKOUT SESSION II: PERCEPTIONS & INNOVATIONS IN GRADUATION PATHWAYS
- BREAKOUT SESSION III: SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR POSTSECONDARY PERSISTENCE & SUCCESS
Opening Pathways to Success for All Students Through Collaboration, Resarch and Innovation
TOPICS:
- BREAKOUT SESSION I: INNOVATIONS IN COLLABORATION
- BREAKOUT SESSION II: INNOVATIONS IN CONNECTING HIGH SCHOOL TO POSTSECONDARY
- BREAKOUT SESSION III: INNOVATIONS IN ADVISING AND NAVIGATION SUPPORT
We Can and Will do it For and With Youth
TOPICS:
- EWS 2.0 ADVANCING ALL STUDENTS
- NAVIGATION SUPPORTS FOR ALL
- WORKING TOGETHER: COLLABORATIONS & NETWORKS
- GET STARTED AND KEEP MOTIVATING
- DATA SYSTEMS AND USE
Nearly 100 individuals from 12 states, 16 districts, 17 business non-profits, 8 higher education institutions and the technology sector convened in Baltimore, MD from 2017-2019 to share ideas and progress.
resources & videos
Solutions Forums
The Pathways to Adult Success Solution Forum Series was developed during the pandemic to provide insight into some of the innovative solutions that PAS Learning Community members are developing to enable students to overcome various barriers to school success in these challenging times.
COLLABORATIVE SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS’ SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO COLLEGE
October 12, 2023
ENHANCING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORTS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
February 15, 2023
PANDEMIC INNOVATIONS
January 19, 2023
SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOLERS’ TRANSITIONS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER
November 15, 2022
START THE SCHOOL YEAR RIGHT: SCALING SCHOOL-COMMUNITY COLLABORATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
October 4, 2022
HOLISTIC SUPPORTS TO HELP STUDENTS CONNECT, THRIVE, AND PERSIST IN COLLEGE
March 1, 2022
ENGINEERING STUDENT SUCCESS IN PANDEMIC-IMPACTED TIMES
January 25, 2022
MEETING THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION & POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS CHALLENGE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
December 14, 2021
BUILDING STUDENT AGENCY TO BOOST SUCCESS IN SCHOOL & LIFE
November 16, 2021
RE-IMAGINING HIGH SCHOOL FOR A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
October 19, 2021
OPENING DOORS TO COLLEGE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS
September 14, 2021
rEnabling Underserved Students to Progress Through Postsecondary Schooling: Highlighting Research
June 22, 2021
Extending On-Track Supports to All Secondary Students in the 2021 & 2022 School Years
April 6, 2021
Putting Students On Track to Adult Success During and After COVID-19: State Department of Education Innovations
March 2, 2021
Developing a Policy Agenda to Improve Young People’s Opportunities for Adult Success
January 19, 2021
Enhancing Students’ Career Development Experiences During COVID-19 and Beyond
December 16, 2020
Promoting Equity During COVID-19 and Beyond
November 17, 2020
Advancing Historically Under-Served Students During COVID-19 and Beyond
October 20, 2020
Enabling Student Progress Through School During COVID-19
September 16, 2020
Preparing for the Return to School, Teaching and Learning: Challenges and Opportunities
June 17, 2020
Preparing for the Return to School, Using and Adapting Early Warning, On-Track, and MTSS Systems to Support Students During COVID-19
May 19, 2020
Supporting Students During COVID-19
April 28, 2020
Supporting High School Seniors During COVID-19
April 7, 2020
Keeping Secondary School Students Connected to School When School is Remote
March 2020
Designing Education
A podcast hosted by Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center.
Conversations with leaders in education from around the country on bold new ideas and research-based strategies for redesigning American education to more effectively engage all students and equip them for the challenges of today’s workplace and world.
