ESG’s blog is a place to share what we have learned from our projects, our education and leadership experiences, and perspectives on how to improve student success. Expect insightful commentary from the ESG team that highlights promising practices from states and communities, and is designed to make connections and spur deeper conversation. Breaking down barriers and siloes within the nation’s K-12, postsecondary and workforce systems begins with getting everyone talking.
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Over the course of my 13-year tenure in advising and academic affairs at both open-access community colleges and selective four-year institutions, I uttered the words “You have to change your major or find a different program” far too many times—disproportionately...
Monday, January 31, 2022
It’s a time-old question that every high school student faces at one point or another: What are you doing next? With a wider variety of postsecondary pathways than ever before, it’s critical that students and their families understand the full...
Friday, November 12, 2021
At ESG, we believe aligned advising is essential for opening the doors to postsecondary and career success. Students who receive high-quality advising gain a multitude of academic, navigational, and relational benefits. Unfortunately, not all students have equitable access to advising...
Monday, November 8, 2021
Over the last year and a half, higher education institutions have been challenged in unforeseen ways – a global pandemic, revenue loss, and enrollment declines. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, postsecondary education and state leaders have a tremendous opportunity to reimagine...
Thursday, October 14, 2021
As the United States recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing talent shortages and reskilling needs is more urgent than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 8.4 million Americans are still out of work as of August 2021. ...
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
The pandemic has caused dramatic shifts in K-12 education, higher education, and the labor market and diverted many students’ postsecondary plans. Students are entering their third year of pandemic-impacted schooling, and they need advising on how to navigate these changing...
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
We know that doors to opportunity are not opened solely by students’ academic experiences or success. Social capital—benefits and opportunities derived from networks and connections—matters tremendously for success in postsecondary education and training and beyond. To understand more about the...
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
As employers ramp up hiring, higher education institutions have a unique opportunity to help drive the economic recovery by scaling programs that prepare students for good jobs. This is particularly important for displaced workers looking to upskill. With significant new...
Monday, June 7, 2021
A significant portion of our work at Education Strategy Group (ESG) is focused on the improvement and modernization of career pathways as drivers of economic mobility. But what about career pathways within the field of education itself? In the effort...
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Last summer, ESG published From Tails to Heads: Building Momentum for Postsecondary Success and introduced the concept of “Momentum Metrics” — eight of the most predictive indicators of postsecondary preparation, retention, and success. We believe that these metrics will help...
Thursday, May 27, 2021
With significant new investments from the American Rescue Plan, education leaders at districts, states, and postsecondary institutions have the opportunity to not only combat the effects of the pandemic, but to take aggressive and innovative action to close longstanding equity...
Monday, May 17, 2021
Who says postsecondary credentials are valuable? How do we know? A response to the recent Postsecondary Value Commission Report