Advancing Opportunity:
A Blueprint for Success After High School

Early and sustained access to advising helps students explore college and career pathways, choose courses aligned to their goals, navigate opportunities that build in-demand skills, and make informed decisions to prepare for life after high school. 

What this policy does

Our model policy sets both students and advisors up for success by establishing a continuous advising system from elementary through high school, combining early career exploration with individualized support as students progress. By setting a manageable student-to-advisor ratio, it ensures students receive guidance aligned to graduation, college and career pathways, and proven opportunities like advanced coursework and work-based learning.

Advanced courses help students build strong academic skills, earn college credit, and graduate better prepared for college and careers. Too often, access depends on where a student attends school or whether families know how to opt in. These barriers prevent many students who are ready for advanced work from getting the opportunities they deserve.

What this policy does

Alongside state-required advanced math pathways in middle school, this model policy automatically enrolls students who qualify into advanced courses in core high school subjects based on their academic record. Families receive clear information about course placement and benefits, but may choose to opt their child out with the support of a counselor.

The policy also expands access to free dual-credit opportunities and helps ensure students have consistent access to advanced coursework across campuses by requiring a baseline set of advanced courses to be offered districtwide.

To pursue strong career options, students need high quality CTE programs that are rigorous, relevant, and aligned to in-demand credentials that build the knowledge and skills employers and postsecondary programs expect. These pathways must align to the workforce students will enter after graduation so students can successfully transition into postsecondary education, training, or a living wage career.

What this policy does

This model policy requires districts to align CTE programs to future high-demand, high-wage careers using job market, student outcome, and industry trend data. It establishes expectations for regularly reviewing and updating CTE pathways to ensure they remain relevant and effective. The policy also protects students by requiring transition plans when programs change, so students can complete a full program without interruption.

• Families and communities deserve to know whether schools are preparing students for life after graduation. Clear goals and transparent data build trust and accountability by making progress visible and highlighting where gaps remain. Aligning resources to student outcomes ensures funding is focused on strategies that work and the results that matter most for students.
• What this policy does
• This model policy encourages school boards to set ambitious goals for college and career readiness to meet the needs of all students, regardless of their circumstances. Each year, the district must demonstrate how funding decisions advance those goals and publicly report progress on key indicators like credential attainment, financial aid application completion, and postsecondary enrollment.

• When students graduate ready for college and careers, districts earn additional state funding. But the advising, coursework, and work based learning that drive student success require real investment, and state law only requires districts to spend 55% of these funds on college and career readiness.
• What this policy does
• This policy commits districts to reinvesting 90% of state College, Career, and Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus funds back into the programs and strategies proven to improve student outcomes. By directing these dollars toward effective advising, high-quality coursework, and career pathways, the policy ensures that funding earned through student success is used to expand opportunity and strengthen preparation for even more students.