GEAR UP: College and Career Preparation Standards
From Vision to Standards: Building a Framework for College and Career Preparation
The development of the College and Career Preparation Standards was initiated in response to a clear and pressing need: to provide educators, students, and families with a structured, research-based framework to support student success beyond high school. This initiative was grounded in the comprehensive Postsecondary Readiness Literature Review authored by Teresa Lansford, Ph.D., Laura Halstied M.A., Sherry Franklin M.Ed., and Brittney Morrissey, Ph.D. Their work synthesized current research and best practices, laying the foundation for what would become a transformative set of standards.
A distinguished Advisory Board, composed of scholars from across the nation and K20 Center staff, was assembled to ensure that the standards were both rigorous and relevant. Each of the following members brought extensive expertise in education, counseling, and postsecondary readiness:
- Roderick L. Carey, Ph.D.—Associate Professor, University of Delaware
- David Conley, Ph.D.—Professor/Director, University of Oregon
- Bill Frick, Ph.D.—Professor, University of Oklahoma
- Katie Hill, Ph.D.—Director of Programs, NCCEP
- Daniel Klasik, Ph.D.—Associate Professor, UNC Chapel Hill
- Jackie Mania, Ed.D.—Director of Research and Evaluation, NCCEP
- Melissa A. Martinez, Ph.D.—Professor, Texas State University
- Allison Paolini, Ph.D., NCC—Director, MSE School Counseling Program, Arkansas State University
- Laura Buxton, M.Ed.—Project Director for GEAR UP for LIFE
- Sherry Franklin, M.Ed.—Director of Learning Support for GEAR UP for LIFE
- Brittney Morrissey, Ph.D.—Evaluation and Data Scientist for GEAR UP for LIFE
- Leslie Williams, Ph.D.—Director of the K20 Center
- Lindsay Williams, Ph.D.—Associate Director of College and Career Readiness
- Scott Wilson, Ph.D.—Associate Director of Innovative Learning
The Advisory Board’s collective expertise ensured the standards were responsive to the needs of students, educators, and families, and aligned with the shifting landscape of postsecondary education. Through 2031, the scholars will also inform research designs to validate and demonstrate how these standards effectively promote college and career preparation in a wide variety of circumstances.
On August 8–9, 2024, the Advisory Board convened at The Noun Hotel in Norman, Oklahoma, for a pivotal summit. Staff members including Laura Buxton M.Ed., Scott Wilson Ph.D., Leslie Williams Ph.D., Lindsay Williams, Ph.D., Sherry Franklin M.Ed, Brittney Morrissey Ph.D., and Lori Kemmet Ph.D., joined the scholars to engage in deep dialogue and collaborative design.
Prior to the summit, scholars reviewed the literature review and prepared to explore the “Who-dos”—personas representing educators, students, and parents. The summit focused on defining the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSAs) essential for each persona. Through iterative discussions, the team drafted potential standards organized by grade level, ensuring developmental appropriateness and alignment with research.
From Draft to Publication
Following the summit, the drafted standards underwent refinement. Each standard was cross-checked against the initial literature review to ensure they were supported by evidence from the literature. Dr. Tiffany Neil played a critical role in translating the drafts into formal, standardized language. Once finalized, the standards were branded and published on the K20 Center website, making them accessible to educators, district leaders, and stakeholders across the state and beyond.
Based on the research, the standards will be revisited over time to ensure they align with academic literature. The K20 Center and the Advisory Board will continue to promote and share the College and Career Preparation Standards with stakeholders through the K20 Center website, professional development, conferences, and research across the state and nation.
