3. College & Career Pathways

The Commission’s final report under Policy Area 3: College and Career Readiness Pathways (Including Career and Technical Education (CTE)) recommended the following:

• Establishing an internationally benchmarked curriculum that enables most students to achieve “college‑ and career‑ready” status by the end of grade 10 and then pursue pathways that include IB, AP, or Cambridge diploma programs, early college, and/or a rigorous technical education leading to industry‑recognized credentials and high‑paying jobs;

• A fully aligned instructional system including curriculum frameworks, syllabi, assessments, clear examples of standard-setting work, and formative assessments to keep students on track;

• Setting the College and Career Readiness Standard (CCR) to global standards that certifies that those who reach it have the required literacy in English and mathematics (and when practicable science) to succeed in first-year credit-bearing courses in open enrollment postsecondary institutions (mainly community colleges) in the State; and

• Creation of a CTE system that produces graduates ready and qualified to work in in-demand fields that will propel Maryland’s economic future.