Vision, Goals, & Strategies

Vision

We envision a future in which all California students have equal opportunity to pursue training and education that connects their strengths, passions, and goals to well-paid and fulfilling career opportunities.

Goals

Student-focused goals

Provide all California 6th-12th grade students with the tools they need to:

  • Identify their interests, skills, hopes, and passions.
  • Understand what training and education is needed to enter professions that connect their strengths and interests to family-supporting jobs.
  • Track their coursework against admissions and financial aid eligibility requirements.
  • Navigate the process of applying to the full range of educational options after high school, as well as financial aid programs that can help pay for the associated costs.
Educator-focused goals icon

Provide educators and educational systems the data and tools they need to:

  • Develop systematic approaches to guiding and supporting students as they plan for life after high school.
  • Make the best possible decisions about admissions, placement, guidance, financial aid, and support services.
  • Collaborate effectively with partner institutions to smooth transitions for students.

Strategies

With an emphasis on systemic changes to shift student outcomes at scale, our work centers on three strategies:

Advocating icon

Advocating for policy change.

  • Ensure clearly-defined data standards regarding courses and grades, so that we can automate eligibility and application processes.
  • Require 6th-12th grade students to complete a high-quality college and career planning curriculum prior to graduation through CaliforniaColleges.edu, the state’s official college and career planning website.
Data Infrastructure icon

Providing a data and guidance infrastructure.

  • Provide a one-stop college and career planning platform through CaliforniaColleges.edu.
  • Implement integrations with California public college and financial aid applications, allowing data to follow students and inform key decisions about admissions, placement, guidance, financial aid, and support services.
Data-driven guidance practices icon

Helping educators move towards more data-driven guidance practices and more accurate data management.

  • Provide technical assistance, including text and video guides, training, user support, and troubleshooting.
  • Build the capacity of K-12 districts by offering the support needed to develop and distribute an implementation plan and by providing ongoing coaching on the use of data to drive district-wide improvement.