Our guest for this episode of College & Career Readiness Radio is Cyekeia Lee.

Cyekeia starts by explaining the work she does in 58 high schools with the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN). She wants to ensure that “despite zip codes, students get what they need.”

DCAN does professional learning with school counselors so that they’re aware of opportunities for access to college and universities for their students.

Cyekeia emphasizes the fact that school counselors are often pressed for time and their focus is not always on college and career readiness, which is why DCAN is working to equip them with the tips and tools to maximize their effectiveness.

Cyekeia talked about FAFSA completion and students’ sense of the purpose of college. DCAN has goals around FAFSA completion in Detroit, and you can’t miss the strategies that they’re using to connect with the communities. Listen to what she says about the FAFSA Blitz.

She mentions some of the barriers to FAFSA completion and what they’re doing to try to overcome them.

Cyekeia discusses policy implications in terms of what they’re intending to do and some of the hurdles in place to achieving better outcomes.

She calls for more policies that bring the counselor to student ratios down and that the ownership of college and career readiness can’t just be on the school counselor.

Cyekeia talks about ways in which students can access funding beyond the FAFSA to support college attainment in an affordable fashion. Students should be looking for every dollar possible.

She says that the work of DCAN, and even the schools, wouldn’t work without strong community ties and community engagement at every level.

Don’t miss what she says about Graduate 313 and college students around the nation who are champions in this effort to get more students to access postsecondary education.

She mentions the many resources for schools and parents at the National College Access Network website.

Cyekeia ends by telling listeners that college access is easier than you think. We need to communicate a new message to students that everyone can go to college and there are avenues to make it possible for all students.

If you want to learn about a technology platform that solves a ton of the problems that Cyekeia talks about in the show, book a demo with MaiaLearning.com.

Book a time to discuss college and career readiness with the host of the show, Dr. T.J. Vari.

Our guest for this episode of College & Career Readiness is Adam Welcome.

Adam starts with the fact that technology is ubiquitous and every profession from a mechanic to a medical doctor uses it. That’s why it’s so important to learn by using technology tools in school.

He tells listeners that technology use in schools has to be effective because it’s typically not effective in the home.

He says that school leaders need to rethink how they run their school and the types of technological advancements that are available to students at least every 3-5 years because of the way that technology changes and evolves.

Adam says that he hasn’t been totally impressed with the use of AI tools in schools yet, and we should stay tuned to more effective uses of it.

He talks about a more student-centered approach being the future, and that the adults need to learn to get out of the way, especially with technology because the kids already know how to use tools that the teachers haven’t yet mastered.

Adam tells a story about how his daughter used a technology tool in a way that he would never have thought to tell her to do.

He says that technology use in the classroom has potential to be the ultimate differentiation strategy because every student can work at their own pace using platforms and learning tools.

Although he’s an advocate for CTE, he thinks that CTE has a branding problem and that kids need more opportunities to explore careers that they might not know about.

Adam mentions a number of new pathways that students can take in their postsecondary journey.

He talks about LinkedIn as a place for students to learn about jobs, but he’s referring to the need for college and career exploration in schools.

When it comes to college and career readiness, he recommends Inc. Magazine and Fast Company Magazine as resources that he uses to stay informed.

Adam’s final message to all educators, especially those who say that they don’t have time is: “What can you get rid of that is not relevant anymore?”

If you want to learn about a technology platform that solves a ton of the problems that Adam talks about in the show, book a demo with MaiaLearning.com.

Book a time to discuss college and career readiness with the host of the show, Dr. T.J. Vari.

Our guest for this podcast episode is Bill DeBaun from NCAN.

Bill starts by telling us about the work of the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), including the conference in 2025.

Bill says that districts and states can use frameworks of success to ensure that students are reaching their postsecondary goals.

We must treat college and career exploration as a subject matter like any other subject in schools, including exploration, lesson plans, and curriculum resources, so that every student has equal access to the knowledge and experiences they need for postsecondary planning.

Bill tells listeners about Tempe Union High School District in Arizona and their special scope and sequence for college and career awareness.

One of the best outcomes of a framework that teaches students about colleges and universities is that it can provide information to students who might not otherwise have access, and it can dispel myths about who college is for.

One thing that students can learn as they explore college options is an understanding of how financial aid works and college affordability. Bill explains that the cost of college has gone up, but there are still many different ways to make it affordable for students who want to go.

Bill talks about the importance of making sure that students understand the completion rates at the colleges and universities where they want to apply so that they know the likelihood of actually graduating with a credential.

Bill and T.J. discuss credentialing and the fact that lots of important credentials are only available at 2- and 4-year colleges despite the rhetoric around not having to attend college after high school.

Bill explains the kind of data that schools are using to track postsecondary success after graduation, including the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).

Bill says that senior exit surveys are often not an accurate representation of postsecondary attainment, and districts are surprised when they compare their rates of acceptance and matriculation to real numbers from the NSC.

He tells listeners that a better use of survey data is on the front end of the student experience, such as asking them early in K-12 what their interests are and then building programs based on that.

Bill mentions FAFSA as a data point that schools can analyze because it’s a solid indicator that students are returning to college year-over-year.

Bill recommends the book, Ready, Willing, and Able by Mandy Savitz-Romer and Suzanne M. Bouffard.

Bill’s final message is that the “water’s edge” of the K-12 experience cannot be high school graduation. The investment that we’re making in our students must lead to more than walking across a stage.