Giving Compass' Take:

· Education Dive explains that high schools across the country should reevaluate their diploma requirements and ensure they prepare students for college by meeting typical eligibility requirements at four-year institutions.

· How can donors make an impact in this area? How can schools provide parents and students with more accurate information about graduation requirements?

· Read about the benefits of career and technical education.

Adding career- and STEM-focused courses to high school graduation requirements isn't enough to ensure students are eligible for postsecondary admission, the Center for American Progress finds.

The CAP paper is another example in which students might be passing and even excelling in their high school classes, but are unaware that those classes aren’t preparing them for freshman-level coursework in college. Last fall, for example, TNTP released a report showing that more than 70% of students do the work their teachers give them, but less than a fifth of those assignments meet college-readiness standards. Students, the report said, are often “being woefully underprepared to meet their ambitious goals.”

Such findings point to the need for students to have access to college counselors who understand the gaps between high school diploma and college admission requirements and can begin connecting with students and families in 9th grade so they understand the courses they need to take and how to apply for financial aid. Frequent reports, however, show that because counselor-to-student ratios are so high, students often don’t have the access to expert advice they need. Many students, especially those whose parents didn’t attend college, don’t even know the questions to ask about college and career choices.

Read the full article about diploma requirements by Linda Jacobson at Education Dive.