Academic Expectations Are Up, and That’s Good for Business

There is good news that suggests students are becoming better prepared to meet the demands of the workforce.

Last week, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) compared how states report “student proficiency” to how kids are performing on an independent benchmark test called the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP).

The results show that the difference between these two scores – the so-called “Honesty Gap” –is closing. In addition, the gap between states with the highest performance standard and the lowest performance standard is narrowing as well.

We have certainly seen concern for how prepared high school graduates are for college and the workplace. A 2018 Gallup poll found that a mere 3% of Americans believed high school graduates were prepared to succeed at either college or a job. That’s troubling.  

But the recent news is a sign that states are recognizing the importance of holding students to higher expectations.

Here’s why that’s especially good for business:

First, knowing is half the battle. Today’s most promising jobs demand high-level literacy, quantitative reasoning, problem solving, communication and collaboration skills. When kids leave high school with those tools, they have the best chance for a promising future. Unfortunately, states have historically exaggerated the percent of students they believe have that proficiency, putting an extra burden on businesses to gauge whether applicants are truly qualified for a position. No doubt, the best employers invest in their employees even before they start. When states are more honest about student performance, companies have a better field of vision on potential new employees. They can provide targeted training and support to potential employees and help bridge gaps in the most needed skills.  

Second, if students are meeting a higher bar in school, they’ll be more prepared to meet a higher bar in the workplace. Today’s young adults are tech savvy, connected, and concerned about the sociopolitical issues of the day. In addition, the National Society of High School Scholars reports that they, “expect to work hard and progress quickly” and “hold equally high expectations for themselves and from their employers.” When a young person graduates with an inflated understanding of their capabilities, they are in for crushing disappointment when they realize that they are not qualified for a job. Or, if they do get a job, they will likely not progress as quickly as they had hoped. Raise expectations, provide an honest assessment of where students stand in meeting those expectations and they will be stronger and more prepared for what they face in the workplace.  

The fact that states are raising the bar is good news, indeed. But it’s no time to declare mission accomplished. I agree with education policy expert Dale Chu who cautioned that the good news may not last. Unfortunately, states that are currently at the leading edge of the NCES report may “play musical chairs” and move away from stronger aligned assessments.

While ditching annual assessments may be the politically expedient move, I’ve yet to see an example where doing so has served students well in the long game. This is a moment to commend states for their work to level-set expectations and commit to working together to keep those high expectations in place.