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A brief from AIR's Center for College and Career Readiness outlines provisions under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that support college and career readiness for students with disabilities. The brief is also discussed in a webinar on supporting students through personalized learning that was hosted by the American Youth Policy Forum.

This publication from the American Youth Policy Forum discusses how afterschool programs can help prepare youth for college and careers in STEM fields. The publication includes evidence and real-world examples that afterschool programs can use to inform partnerships and programming in this area.

This Forum Brief from the American Youth Policy Forum provides an archive of a recent event on career and technical education (CTE). Presentation materials include leading research on CTE and analysis of the evolving workforce needs, which have influenced the development of innovative CTE strategies. There are also links to CTE programs and summaries.

Provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st CCLC web portal, this You for Youth online professional learning course explores ways to incorporate college and career readiness into 21st CCLC afterschool and summer programs. Learn how to use existing activities to build and reinforce skills, work with stakeholders to strengthen your program, tap into various funding sources, and help families become more informed.

This video from the American Youth Policy Forum features the stories of several first-generation college students and graduates, and explores their challenges, sources of support, and recommendations for policymakers. A related article provides additional information on the types of support that helps first-generation college students make it to and through college and includes links to related resources. Afterschool programs can use these resources independently or collaborate with schools to determine how to best support the students in their programs.

What qualities do children need to develop to be prepared for success in adult life? Drawing on research from several fields, University of Chicago researchers identify self-regulation, knowledge and skills, mindsets, and values. A developmental framework illustrates that some qualities are especially important to develop during certain stages of childhood. The report addresses how parents, teachers, and afterschool professionals can foster children’s growth in ways that lead to college and career readiness, healthy relationships, and engaged citizenship. Download the full report, a research brief, and a framework infographic from the Wallace Foundation website.

This webinar recording from You for Youth presents tools, resources, and implementation strategies of the portal’s new course on college and career readiness. The strategies are designed to help afterschool practitioners and the students they serve move college and career readiness into practice, including setting goals and keeping projects focused on student needs.

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading focuses on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation: grade-level reading by the end of third grade. This collaborative effort by nonprofit, business, government, and community partners strives to ensure more children in low-income families are prepared for college, career, and active citizenship. The Campaign’s website offers recommendations and resources to help mobilize communities to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents to become full partners in their children's success.

During the transitional summer between high school and college, a surprising number of high school students fail to complete the college enrollment process and begin their postsecondary education in the fall. Called the “summer melt,” this phenomenon is especially true among low-income students. This Research in Brief profile from the National Summer Learning Association shares the results of a study on the challenges of the summer melt and provides recommendations educators and policymakers can implement to prevent it.

First in the Family is a website that provides practical advice and lessons learned by high school seniors and high school graduates who have made it to college. The website includes videos and planning checklists for students who are preparing to apply to and attend college, as well as resources for advisors and parents. The website is project of What Can Kids Do, a nonprofit committee that supports college access and success for low-income students.