Designated programs should be structured around clear and detailed student academic pathways from secondary and post-secondary education with regard to coursework, sequencing, and experiences beyond the classroom.
Students should earn college credits towards a postsecondary credential aligned to career opportunities in high demand fields, allowing them to make an informed decision about which career pathway to pursue.
Students should also be exposed to the academic rigor of postsecondary education. This would require validating that courses on the high school campus are as rigorous as those offered on the college campus.
A Next Step Plan provides a four-year pathway that students will travel towards college credential or degree while simultaneously completing high school graduation requirements. The plan demonstrates curriculum alignment with postsecondary partners for ALL pathways offered. If the ECHS offers a general studies or liberal arts pathway, the school must offer at least one additionally defined program of study that is based on relevant regional and state workforce data, leading towards a workforce credential.
