Aligning Incentives with Opportunity in College and Career Readiness across Rural Texas. Policy Brief No. 3

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Aligning Incentives with Opportunity in College and Career Readiness across Rural Texas. Policy Brief No. 3
Language: English
Authors: Jacob Kirksey, Jennifer Freeman, Wesley Edwards, Brian Holzman, Han Bum Lee, Texas Tech University (TTU), Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education (CIRCLE)
Source: Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. 2026.
Availability: Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. Texas Tech University, College of Education, 3002 18th Street, Room 168, Lubbock, TX 79409. Tel: 806-834-2923; e-mail: circle.educ@ttu.edu; Web site: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/88837
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 5
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Texas 2036
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: College Readiness, Career Readiness, Rural Schools, Accountability, Incentives, Dual Enrollment, Associate Degrees, College Entrance Examinations, Credentials, Education Work Relationship
Geographic Terms: Texas
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: SAT (College Admission Test), ACT Assessment
Abstract: Using statewide longitudinal data that link high school graduates to college and the workforce, we examined differences in college and workforce outcomes for students who were considered CCMR-ready, with a focus on the differences in how they met CCMR criteria. We find that when rural students met specific CCMR indicators, they experienced significant gains in college and the workforce. In contrast, when students met other criteria, they fared no better compared to students who met no CCMR benchmark. Importantly, we show that rural students are meeting these high-value indicators at higher rates than students in non-rural districts, demonstrating that meaningful college readiness is not only possible in rural settings but already being achieved by many districts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679044
Database: ERIC
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