Welcome to the Education Commission of the States' High School Database

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P-16/P-20 Councils

Why this issue matters

• Establishing a P-16 or P-20 council sets a formal expectation and a venue for collaboration across early learning, K-12 and postsecondary providers.
• Having broad-based participation inclusive of early learning, government, business and other stakeholders helps states reach consensus among all key players impacted by P-16 reform and ensures that recommendations made by the council are heard by the appropriate policymaking authority (state board, commission for higher education, university trustees, legislature, governor, etc.).
• A focused agenda can reduce the likelihood that time and effort will be spent on duplicative efforts.
• Addressing early learning and the "17-20" in P-20 truly addresses the mission of a P-20 council.
• Establishing statistical P-16 or P-20 performance goals, as opposed to more generalized statements of expectation, provide additional focus, accountability and validation for P-16 and P-20 reform efforts.
  

Why our methodology matters

• Primary resources: ECS draws its information primarily from state statute, rules and regulations, recently enacted legislation, executive orders and other primary source documents.
• For this database: ECS performed an initial search of statutes, regulations and executive orders. However, because many P-16 and P-20 councils are established independently of these means, ECS conducted interviews with and had all data verified by at least one contact in the state (typically a P-16 or P-20 council member or staff member supporting the council).
• We believe that policy helps institutionalize practice.
• Our goal is to document where the underlying authority lies, and where consensus has been strong enough to adopt a common approach.

Related ECS products

• Policy brief: The Progress of P-16 Collaboration in the States
• StateNote: P-16 Collaboration in the States
• Recent state policies/activities database and issue site

Staff contact:
Jennifer Dounay Zinth, senior policy analyst
303.299.3689
jdounay@ecs.org

A report containing all information available in the P-16/P-20 Councils database for a single state

P-16/P-20 councils (all data points for all states) Name of council Coordinating body Membership Year started Scope of the initiative (P-16, P-20, etc.) Made permanent by executive order or statute Advisory only or has authority Source of council's funding Council meets at least once a quarter Council supported by at least .5 FTE List of issues/initiatives council is addressing State has P-16/P-20 performance goals Council regularly chaired (or co-chaired) by the governor Policy changes brought about by P-16/P-20 coordinating body State council supports local and/or regional P-16/P-20 councils

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Use the diagram below to view the components of state-level high school reform, and their relationship to one another.

Please contact Jennifer Dounay Zinth (jdounay@ecs.org or 303.299.3689) with any questions on the High School Policy Center, or on high school policy and research.