Dive Brief:

• Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday has announced a new plan that would allow high school graduates to earn an enhanced diploma with benefits such as scholarships and early college admission.
• The Kentucky Rising program could be in schools as early as the 2016-17 school year, according to Holliday, who says it would do more for the state than 2009 legislation calling for more rigorous standards.
• The Kentucky Board of Education and its agency heads have planned a January meeting with the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the Council on Postsecondary Education and the Education Professional Standards Board, with the goal of gaining support for the initiative.

Dive Insight:

A program with benefits such as scholarships and college admission can not be created in a vacuum. Speaking with higher ed officials is necessary if the Kentucky Board of Education is serious about making this initiative a reality.

"It's huge," Holliday told Kentucky.com, "I think it's going to be a critical initiative for economic development in our state." 

According to a 2005 report by Education Trust, only 63% of students who enter a four-year university will graduate, and when they do, it typically takes six years. The statistic sheds light on a disconnect between a high school diploma and college degree. Does a high school's 98% graduation rate really mean much these days? Ensuring students are prepared once they leave the nest is critical.