A Complete Definition of College and Career Readiness.

In many circles, efforts are under way to develop definitions of college readiness, career readiness, or both. This brief contains a definition that is the culmination of 18 years of study and research on this topic. Major work conducted by the author and his colleagues that contributes to this definition includes a proficiency-based college admissions system developed for the Oregon University System, a national study on college readiness standards sponsored by the Association of American Universities, multiple analyses of entry-level college courses sponsored by the College Board and others, college and career readiness standards developed under the sponsorship of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and subsequent studies of their validity relative to college and careers, a study of career preparation programs sponsored by the National Assessment Governing Board, and two major studies sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the alignment of the Common Core State Standards to college and career readiness.