In order to better prepare students and increase their potential for success in college, the Pathways to College Network has proposed guidelines for improving access to college, according to Ann Coles, director of the network.
Pathways is a Massachusetts-based advocacy group that targets educational policies for low-income and minority students.
"There has been a lot of effort in the past four years for better access to college for underprivileged and minority students, but despite that effort, there are still gaps," Coles said.
While Pathways issued almost 100 guidelines, Coles said there are three main goals.
The first goal seeks to make college preparatory courses the core curriculum for all students, Coles said.
The second goal, she added, requires that students receive financial aid packages earlier, so they would not worry about paying for school.
The third goal encourages colleges and universities to make changes to the campus culture so it is more conducive to all students, Coles said.
Brian Pusser, assistant professor of higher education in the Education School, said the University already maintains a number of Pathways' goals. These goals, Pusser added, raise important issues in assessing the educational system.
"Pathways understands a number of challenges that students face," he said.
The ideas for the guidelines stemmed from 650 research studies that outlined effective measures to improve students' access to college, Coles said.
Pusser said the extent to which these guidelines can be realized will depend on governmental financial assistance.
"We need to address if there is a political will to support these solutions," Pusser said.
He also added that schools may seek support from private institutions.
"There is tension between public solutions and an increased effort to use private solutions to public challenges," Pusser said.
School districts are hiring private sector institutions to supplement students' classroom education, Pusser said.
Coles said Pathways will present the guidelines to high school principals, college and university deans and lawmakers who can influence educational decision-making at the federal level.
"Our emphasis is on communication," Coles said.
To track the influence of the guidelines, Coles said Pathways will observe the number of high schools that change graduation requirements and the number of students who take Advanced Placement courses.
While Pathways seeks to address the needs of lower income and minority students, all students are the targets of the guidelines, Coles said.
"Students who historically think that they cannot do well actually can do well in higher level courses," she said. "What we're trying to do is systemic. It is important for schools to embrace the culture and social background of students."
Pusser said preparing students can begin as early as elementary school.
"The best research shows that we need to focus at a very young age." on preparation, Pusser said.
Coles also added that Pathways also seeks to change the way students are taught.
"We want to generate learning approaches that draw on a variety of ways students learn," Coles said.
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