Destination Known

Getting Implementation Right
To deliver on this set of recommendations in a high-quality way, states will need to
attend to a number of important implementation issues.
• DEFINITIONS
States need to implement a rigorous and ongoing process to define the critical terms found in the recommended
measures, such as which pathways “lead to a credential of value” to the state’s workforce, what jobs are in a “high-skill,
high-demand field,” and what entails a meaningful “Learning and Leadership experience.” Each of these terms will be
shaped by the unique context of the state. Postsecondary education and industry must be involved in developing and
refining these definitions over time.
• VALIDATION OF QUALITY
Verifying that a student’s performance or experience is both rigorous and meaningful for preparation is essential.
This validation will likely need to come from outside the K-12 system. Higher education and business are the ultimate
validators of whether a student is ready, and thus they should play a pivotal role in defining quality. Validation is
especially important for measurement categories one through three. Without validation from outside the K-12 system,
the measures may not hold value.
• TIMELINE
The timeline for action will vary from state to state. Movement from reporting to accountability must be based on the
state’s comfort with the quality of data in each performance category.
• PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
States need to balance the rigor of expecting all students to be postsecondary and career ready with the reality that we
are far from that goal. States would likely find it helpful to set realistic targets for school performance and increase them
over time.
Collecting and reporting high-quality data is also a fundamental component for
success. There are a host of issues that states will need to address, including, at a
minimum:
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Transition from self-report to individual student data
Establish necessary new data agreements and new partnerships for collecting/sharing
information to get individual student data
Access informaton from employers and other external partners about student
skill development.
Develop and verify methods for measuring “professional” skills
Define which industry-recognized credentials have value in the field and have an ongoing
process for identification and validation
Partner with industry to validate the state’s technical skills assessments
Create a plan to obtain individual student data across state lines regarding enrollment
in remediation, certification, apprenticeships, and employment, while ensuring proper
student privacy protections are in place.
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