Adriana Harrington is the Managing Director of Policy for ExcelinEd.
In recent years, state policymakers have brought into focus policies designed to improve the connection between high school and what comes next.
A few states are leading on key policies to reimagine the high school diploma—not merely as a certificate of completion, but also as a seamless launchpad to college, career or military service. By aligning graduation requirements with post-secondary opportunities and intentionally communicating the post-secondary options, these initiatives aim to provide students with clearer, more attainable pathways to success.
This is part of the broader body of College and Career Pathways policy work that we undertake at ExcelinEd with the overall goal of preparing students for the careers of the future while ensuring quality, value and access for all students.
When you think of a high school graduation ceremony, you might envision students in their caps and gowns crossing a stage as their names are called. Once diplomas are handed out, students fling their mortar boards into the air in a celebratory moment of closure.
The graduation ceremony along with high school diplomas historically signify the end of secondary education, with students often left to navigate the complex transition to college or the workforce on their own.
Recognizing this challenge, especially for first-generation college students and those from underserved communities, several states have introduced policies to help students plan for their next steps during their high school journey so that they are well prepared to start a new chapter once they have their diploma in hand.
Indiana has emerged as a leader in this movement with its redesign of the high school diploma. The redesigned diploma comes with updated graduation requirements that balance flexibility and choice, elevate experiential learning and prepare students for success no matter their pathway. Indiana’s redesigned high school diploma offers students three distinct pathways with honors and honors plus seals:
The Honors Plus diploma represents a commitment to student preparedness and post-secondary success—and offers students the opportunity to explore, embrace and pursue options best suited to their post-high school goals.
According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, only 53% of Indiana high school graduates go straight to college, and in 2021 only 5.5% of grade 12 students earned a high-quality college and career credential.
By requiring rigorous coursework and practical experiences, Indiana ensures that students are not only eligible for these opportunities but are also equipped to thrive in them. This policy is designed to give students the nudge they might need to take the next step.
Utah has taken significant steps to demystify the college admissions process through its Admit Utah program. This initiative guarantees graduating high school seniors admission to at least one of the state’s 16 public colleges and universities regardless of their GPA. By eliminating traditional barriers to college entry, Utah aims to make higher education more accessible to Utah students.
Prospective students apply to colleges individually after they find out from Admit Utah which ones will guarantee their admission. There are no application fees, and each college has academic advisers available to help students.
The program is complemented by the AdmitUtah.org platform, which serves as a centralized resource for students and families to explore college options, understand admissions requirements and access financial aid information.
Georgia’s MATCH (My Academic and Career Transition Hub) program offers a personalized approach to college admissions. High school seniors receive letters in October detailing the public colleges and universities they are eligible to attend based on their academic records. Students can also access matched institutions on their GAfutures.org student dashboard. This proactive strategy simplifies the decision-making process and encourages students to pursue higher education opportunities they might not have otherwise considered.
The impact of the MATCH program has been evident since its launch in 2023. In the fall following implementation, Georgia’s public colleges and universities experienced a 6% increase in enrollment, the strongest surge in years. University System of Georgia officials credited the MATCH program in part for the increase.
Aligning and connecting high school diplomas with post-secondary opportunities addresses several critical issues that states are facing as they continue to recover from the pandemic and address ongoing structural challenges within their education systems:
The success of programs in Indiana, Utah and Georgia demonstrate the potential for policies that connect high school education with post-secondary opportunities. As more states consider similar initiatives, they can learn from these states on the leading-edge and focus on comprehensive strategies that support students throughout their educational journeys. States can learn more about college and career pathways and policies that support student success through ExcelinEd’s Pathways Matter.
By reimagining the high school diploma as a mile marker rather than a finish line, we can create an education system that goes beyond K-12 to prepare students for opportunities in higher education, the workforce and military service.
