A Path to Alignment: Connecting K-12 and Higher Education Via the Common Core and the Degree Qualifications Profile

This report  describes the gap in the alignment between K-12 and higher education learning objectives and outcomes. The authors argue for the coordinated adoption and alignment of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP) as a solution to this problem. Included in the document is an overview of the CCSS and DQP, descriptions of their relative strengths and weaknesses, and recomendations for their alignment in order to bring about systemic change as well as increased understanding and efficiency between the two levels of education, with increased college and career readiness as the end goal.