About
The Commission on Opportunities After High School is dedicated to shaping a future where every learner thrives and secures a fulfilling livelihood in our dynamic, global economy.
Helping ensure lifelong learning and success for all
The Commission on Opportunities After High School, launched in May 2024, includes 30 members spanning the education, industry, nonprofit, and philanthropic spaces with a collective focus on ensuring people across generations can access and successfully navigate pathways to lifelong learning. We hope the avenues from high school to higher education, service, or work that we highlight; and the policy and practice recommendations we offer help facilitate collaboration across the education and workforce ecosystem to open doors for underserved learners and enable the full participation of our diverse talent pool.
The Commission believes that to enhance American prosperity and ensure American competitiveness, every part of the civic, education, and workforce ecosystem must transform to empower learners to choose the best postsecondary path for themselves; receive guidance throughout college, service, and work; and continue learning, earning industry-valued credentials and advancing civically, personally, and professionally. The education and workforce systems must adapt to empower learners with agency in their postsecondary choices and form a collaborative ecosystem.
The Commission recognizes the historical context and past educational initiatives that have prompted the development of our current system. However, the continuing evolution of society and labor markets necessitates the creation of a new educational narrative, a new set of goals, and new strategies to prepare learners for thriving after high school. The Commission’s discussions were grounded in evidence of what worked well and led to an improvement of learner outcomes in these historical movements. Further investment in proven strategies is worthwhile alongside reforms to systems that have, for too long, excluded large segments of our talented population from paths to prosperity.
Our process
The Commission drew upon a deep well of research studies, effective policies, and innovative practices from across the country at varying levels of K-12 and higher education, workforce training and development, and civic engagement.
The Commission also conducted 30 listening sessions across the country that included high school and college learners, K-12 administrators and teachers, higher education administrators and faculty, employers, philanthropic leaders, and community partners.
After accumulating evidence, listening to learners, educators, and employers, and rigorously discussing important issues, the Commission developed recommendations for empowering learners to thrive after high school.
This work is generously supported by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, Robert and Elizabeth Pozen, the Spencer Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and an anonymous supporter.
Commission Cochairs
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Commission Members
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Gilda A. Barabino
Olin College of Engineering
Academy member
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Kristen Bennett
Service Year Alliance
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Emily Callahan
Brown County Schools, Indiana
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Jason Callahan
Daleville Community Schools, Indiana
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Mary Schmidt Campbell
Spelman College
Academy member
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Shirley M. Collado
College Track
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Michael Collins
Jobs for the Future
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Michelle Asha Cooper
Lumina Foundation
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Aimée Eubanks Davis
Braven
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Arne Duncan
Emerson Collective
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Elena Fuentes-Afflick
Association of American Medical Colleges
Academy member
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Lisa Gevelber
Google LLC
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Roberto G. Gonzales
University of Pennsylvania
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Antonia Hernández
California Community Foundation
Academy member
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Sheila Johnson
Salamander Hospitality
Academy member
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Perri Klass
New York University
Academy member
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Félix V. Matos Rodríguez
City University of New York
Academy member
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Janet A. Napolitano
University of California, Berkeley
Academy member
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Santa J. Ono
Ellison Institute of Technology
Academy member
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Eloy Ortiz Oakley
College Futures Foundation
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Bobby Pace
Community College of Aurora
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Tracy P. Palandjian
Social Finance
Academy member
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Madeline Pumariega
Miami Dade College
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Anthony Woods
Stealth Startup
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David S. Yeager
University of Texas at Austin
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Laura Zabel
Springboard for the Arts
Thriving After High School: Community, School, Service, and Work
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