Data-Informed Advising: Using Retention Checks to Support Student Success

(Education Practice)

This session will highlight how real-time data can uncover common barriers and inform actionable advising strategies. Participants will explore how to translate these insights into effective conversations that support student autonomy, guide decision-making, and promote meaningful engagement in college. Attendees will leave with practical approaches for implementing data-informed advising that drives both persistence and quality enrollment outcomes.

How Are Organizations/Institutions Supporting Students Who Are Most Vulnerable to Policy Shifts in Today’s Volatile World?

(Systems Impact)

In response to continuous policy shifts and a changing educational landscape, organizational practices must adapt to meet the unique and pressing needs of underrepresented students. This session is designed for education professionals who want to deepen their understanding of how shifting policies—from immigration and disability rights to LGBTQIA+ protections—impact the students they serve.

What Is The Postsecondary Readiness Culture in Your School — and What Can You Do About It?

(Systems Impact)

As educators, we rely on established metrics and data to support students’ college and career readiness. But the challenge of inconsistent measurements, reporting delays, and the inability or lack of capacity to collect annual data on student postsecondary culture can impede their efforts.

Join us to discuss and review a new survey process to supplement more traditional metrics with real-time feedback from students about postsecondary culture in their district and schools. We’ll look at survey questions written to specifically evaluate the complex dynamics of a school’s postsecondary culture, at plan structures for survey administration, and use-case examples of implementation via a gold-standard survey platform.

You should join this session if you’re looking for real-time, on-the-ground examples of data collection and analysis to support school strategies towards success in postsecondary readiness.

(Session Full)

Integrating MyCAP + Postsecondary Planning Into Your Designated Pathways

(Education Practice)

Integration of MyCAP (My Career and Academic Plan) into designated pathways is a designation requirement for Early College, Innovation Career Pathways and Chapter 74 and requires capacity and leadership to bring it to life. Learn how schools are meaningfully integrating postsecondary exploration, planning and support into their designated pathways.

The Future of Massachusetts K-12 Graduation Requirements

(Systems Impact)

The Healey-Driscoll Administration convened the Statewide K-12 Graduation Council to inform recommendations for a new statewide graduation requirement. Since March, this diverse group of leaders has engaged with feedback, considered national data, and shaped a bold, emerging vision of how we will prepare our students for college, career, and civic life. OneGoal has also made some key recommendations about how these requirements can ensure all students are leaving high school with a strong postsecondary plan. Join us to hear from Council members about our work to date, share your perspectives, and discuss the path forward.

Are Your Students On-Track to Succeed After High School Graduation? How Do You Know?

(Education Practice)

Despite access to many data sources, it’s hard to track indicators of postsecondary success while students are still in high school. Come learn about OneGoal’s research-backed Student Success Indicators that are most predictive of success beyond high school and how that can inform your strategy and programming.

(Session Full)

Changing the Game: A vision for Massachusetts State Policy + Advocacy

(Systems Impact)

Massachusetts is at a turning point. In 2020, decades of underinvestment had left the state ranked 37th in state grant aid, burdening students with the fifth-highest debt in the nation. In the last five years, significant progress has been made through investments in higher education access, affordability and success. However, we still see large gaps in postsecondary enrollment and attainment between students from low versus high income households. Join us for an interactive session where we share ideas and learn about opportunities to influence policy that will build on our progress, and advance a vision of postsecondary access and success.

Designing Student Pathways for Postsecondary Success

(Systems Impact)

Pathways are at the center of Massachusetts’ education strategy, from Innovation Career Pathways to Early College programs. With strong state-level support and growing demand, the question is no longer whether these pathways matter, but how to design and scale them equitably and effectively in the years ahead. This session will bring together school, district, and policy leaders to explore what it takes to expand pathway opportunities that prepare students for a rapidly changing labor market and postsecondary landscape. Together, we’ll explore considerations for designing programs that engage students and prepare them for tomorrow’s future.

(Session Full)

Family & Network Engagement in Postsecondary Planning: An Open Forum for Shared Learning

(Education Practice)

Families and support networks are essential partners in helping students navigate the complex postsecondary planning process. From understanding college options to exploring career pathways, meaningful engagement with these stakeholders can significantly shape a student’s journey beyond high school. As schools and districts deepen their efforts to expand postsecondary opportunities, the challenge is not whether to engage families and networks, but how to do so equitably, effectively, and consistently. This open forum will bring together educators across the state to share resources, discuss promising practices, and learn from one another.