The National Association of System Heads (NASH) and the Education Trust have come together to support a network of public higher education, K-12 and civic leaders who are implementing statewide K-16 improvement strategies in their states. Members of the State K-16 Network are committed to working both within their states, and with their counterparts in other states, to develop coordinated education improvement efforts, kindergarten through college. These efforts have a single goal: improving student achievement at all levels and closing historic achievement gaps between students of different racial and economic backgrounds.

• Build a common framework among higher education and K-12 leaders (e.g. Chancellors, CEOs and Superintendents) by creating a K-16 approach to education reform.

• Build capacity of senior staff leaders (e.g. Vice Chancellors of Academic Affairs, Deputy Superintendents, etc.) participating in K-16 to carry out the tasks of K-16 initiatives.

• Standards Alignment: Aligning high school graduation/college admissions and placement criteria so that all students graduate high school ready for college without need for remediation.

• Teacher Preparation and Quality: Improving teacher preparation and quality so that teachers are prepared and able to teach all students to high standards.

The following 22 states are now participating in the State K-16 Network, each represented by "Teams" that include leaders from higher education, K-12, business and community organizations.

What are the Key Obligations of Network Member States?

To become a member of the State K-16 Network, state education leaders agree to:

1. Form a statewide K-16 Leadership Council, that brings together on a regular basis leaders from higher education, K-12, business and community organizations for a coordinated K-16 strategy;
2. Launch action initiatives in at least the two areas of Standards Alignment and Teacher Preparation and Quality;
3. Mount a public education campaign to share up-to-date information about the growing importance of high level skills and postsecondary education to success in the 21^st century;
4. Collect, analyze and report to the public common data on student achievement and college preparation, remediation, and graduation rates, as well as on the status of gaps between groups;
5. Share experience with other states from participating states to review progress and chart next steps including annual CEO Institutes and State Team Institutes.

To provide support for Network states, NASH/EdTrust K-16 Staff agree to:

1. Create and maintain an information bank on Network member activities, including contact information;
2. Keep Network members apprised of relevant changes in federal policy and funding opportunities including sponsoring special seminars for participants;
3. Conduct short-term research projects such as gathering information on the implementation of standards alignment in Network states, and sharing this information with states to advance the collective work of Network members;
4. Organize and support implementation problem-solving groups for members at similar stages of work;
5. Sponsor periodic meetings of CEOs and Academic leadership teams from participating states to review progress and chart next steps including annual CEO Summer Institutes, State Team Summer Institutes and State K-16 Pre-Conference Meetings;
6. Respond to Requests for Technical Assistance either by providing that assistance or aiding in the identification of other Network members or outside experts to provide necessary help.

NASH—The National Association of System Heads (NASH) is a membership organization of Chief Executive Officers of the 52 public higher education systems in 38 states and Puerto Rico. The goal of the association is to improve the governance of public higher education systems. Its member systems enroll the lion’s share of college students nationwide—about 70% of all four-year college undergraduates. A major commitment of NASH is to work with K-12 systems and civic leaders to build statewide K-16 vehicles to promote and carry out a coordinated, standards-based education reform strategy. In 1997 its leaders committed to building more strategic collaborations with K-12 CEOs, policy and civic leaders for deepening and accelerating improvement in student achievement and closing long-standing gaps in opportunity and achievement among groups K-16. The NASH/EdTrust State K-16 Network grew out of that commitment.

Education Trust —The Education Trust was established in 1990 by the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) as a special project to encourage colleges and universities to support K-12 reform. The EdTrust has has since grown into an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to make schools and colleges work for all of the young people they serve, especially low-income and minority students. The Education Trust advances its mission along several fronts, from raising its voice in national and state policy debates to helping teachers improve instruction in their classrooms. Regardless of where it occurs, the work of the EdTrust maintains a relentless focus on improving the education of all students, and particularly those students whom the system has traditionally left behind.

visit www.nashonline.org and www.edtrust.org or contact:

Jan Somerville
Staff Officer
NASH
1725 K St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
Ph: 202-887-0614
Fax: 202-293-2605
E-mail: jsomerville@edtrust.org

Yun Yi
Policy Associate
NASH/Education Trust
1725 K St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
Ph: 202-293-1217, ext. 319
Fax: 202-293-2605
E-mail: yyi@edtrust.org