Integrating College and Career Readiness (ICCR) Demonstration Initiative Issue Brief
June 2015
In the summer of 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) funded five school districts—Chicopee, Gill-Montague, Hampden-Wilbraham, Northbridge, and Weymouth—to serve as demonstration sites for the Integrating College and Career Readiness (ICCR) Demonstration Initiative. The purpose of this competitive grant program was to provide start-up support to districts to build a more comprehensive approach to college and career readiness (CCR) through the creation, expansion, and integration of activities that mutually support academic, socialemotional development, and workplace readiness skills for all students in grades 7–12.
The Institute conducted the evaluation of the ICCR Demonstration Initiative, visiting each district, conducting interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders, and administering student and personnel surveys to explore the impacts of integrating CCR into the participating middle schools and high schools.
This issue brief summarizes both district-specific ICCR activities and cross-district achievements, challenges, factors for success, student outcomes, and suggestions for other schools and districts planning to advance their efforts to integrate CCR education.
