The Role of Intergovernmental Relations in K-12 to Higher Education Transitions

The majority of American students who successfully complete high school today reach graduation without satisfying even the minimal qualifications for admission to a four-year college or university (Green and Forster, 2003). For some students, this is neither surprising nor troubling, as they understand the paths ahead of them and have little interest in pursuing postsecondary education. In this paper, the authors explore the transition between American secondary and postsecondary institutions and how it is shaped by intra- and intergovernmental relations. At its core, the authors claim that the problem is one of failed governmental coordination. Then, greater coordination between state agencies and across local, state, and federal governments could hold the key to ensuring that students are prepared to succeed in college and the workforce.