This grant will fund a series of listening sessions, which is the first phase of the American Academy Commission on Opportunities After High School, a newly formed interdisciplinary group sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The goal of the Commission is to develop state and federal strategies to maximize students’ access to quality education and employment opportunities, thereby addressing the racial and economic wealth gap. The Commission will host listening sessions across five U.S. regions to discuss the educational and social barriers students face in pursuing opportunities after high school. Listening sessions will convene high school and college students, parents, teachers, school administrators, business leaders, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates. The Commission will prioritize participation from those most impacted by social inequities. Information gleaned from listening sessions will inform the Commission’s subsequent activities, including strategy development and outreach, to ultimately reduce economic, employment, and education-attainment inequalities among historically marginalized students.
What policies and practices can improve economic and educational post-secondary opportunities for low-income students and students of color?
