What should be the initial step for a principal aiming to ensure students are college and career ready?

The initial step for a principal seeking to ensure that students are college and career ready is to collaborate with stakeholders to set concrete objectives. This collaborative approach is essential as it involves engaging with teachers, parents, community members, and students to identify the specific needs, goals, and benchmarks necessary for preparing students effectively for post-secondary success.

By involving various stakeholders, the principal can gain a comprehensive understanding of the community’s expectations and the resources available to support students. This collaboration helps in creating a shared vision and commitment towards the goal of college and career readiness. Setting clear, concrete objectives ensures that there is a focused strategy in place, allowing for measurable progress over time.

While developing an extracurricular program, conducting surveys, and reviewing college application statistics are all valuable activities, they should come after establishing a solid foundation of goals and objectives based on a collective understanding of community needs.