College & Career Readiness

There is overwhelming evidence that a post-secondary credential significantly improves earning potential. But not enough young people from historically underserved neighborhoods earn them. There are many obstacles. The pathway from K–12 through post-secondary and into the workforce is not aligned. And students do not have equal opportunity to earn college credits and valuable work-based learning experiences in high school. The Joyce Foundation seeks to help underserved K-12 students prepare for college and career success by supporting policies that ensure they have access to high-quality college in high school courses and work-based learning opportunities. We also support policies that ensure K-12, post-secondary and workforce systems are aligned. The Foundation's College and Career Readiness investments will focus on Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. But we will also fund national and federal efforts.

Goal: Support federal, state and district policies that ensure students of color and students in marginalized communities in the Great Lakes region graduate high school prepared to succeed in college and careers.

Objectives:

• Advance state and district policies in the Great Lakes region to align K-12, post-secondary and workforce systems
• Advance district, state and federal policies to expand high-quality college in high school options for students of color and students from marginalized communities
• Support research, policy development and district-employer partnerships that expand high-quality work-based learning opportunities for students of color and students in marginalized communities