Degree Date

4-2021

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Harrington Gibson

Abstract

During my course of study in my doctoral program, I was made aware of research where there was considerable concern by businesses and corporations regarding the potential candidates for hire graduating from our nation’s colleges and universities and their readiness to be engaged and contribute in their particular workforce and/or industry.

As detailed in the book The Global Achievement Gap (Wagner, 2014), this concern arose as the various human resource departments of these corporations and businesses began to discover an “unreadiness” in the educational preparation of graduating college students. Consequently, college admissions departments throughout our country saw more and more college students admitted to their institutions were not prepared for the level of rigor necessary as they entered into their postsecondary career.

This research study evaluated and investigated how high school graduates are prepared for college and career readiness, with a focus on the Illinois Board of Education and the Chicago Public Schools, the largest school district in the state. This study also advocated for policy recommendations that are geared to improving the probability of high school graduates being adequately prepared for college rigor, as well as the accountability measures and key factors to ensure students are college and career ready upon graduation.

View Full Text

Share

COinS