The most recent ACT National Curriculum Survey® findings point to a misalignment between what high school teachers are teaching and what college instructors expect incoming students to know. High schools, in keeping with state learning standards, tend to provide less in-depth instruction across a broader range of skills and topics, while college instructors generally want incoming students to have deep understanding of fundamental skills and knowledge.
The result is that students may enter college without a thorough understanding of the key skills they need to be successful.
The course objectives contained in QualityCore®, ACT's new instructional improvement program, help ensure courses are focused on the right content and skills to enable students to be ready for college and work when they graduate from high school.
QualityCore course objectives are based on those of high schools meeting or exceeding college readiness benchmarks and are aligned with postsecondary expectations.