The role of state P-20 councils in promoting collaboration between K-12 and higher education

Abstract

National and state education goals concerning college access and success require collaboration between K-12 and higher education state agencies. K-12 students must be prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, which requires communication between the two sectors. However, K-12 and higher education have traditionally operated in separate spheres including separate governing structures, funding mechanisms, accountability schemes, and cultures. In the 1990s, states began creating councils to bridge the education sectors. How and to what extent these councils influence collaboration between K-12 and higher education is still largely unknown as the state of research on P-20 councils is limited. This study aims to help fill the research gap through a comparative case study of three state P-20 councils. Through the lens of inorganizational relations, it will describe how the organizational structures of state P-20 councils influence or affect the collaboration of K-12 and higher education literature, especially as they work towards college completion goals.