Next Step Educational Consulting

Next Step Educational Consulting

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  • Professional Development That Touches the Heart: Boosting Teacher Confidence in Career & College Readiness

    August 29, 2025
    Continuous Improvement Process, Defining Career and College, Defining Success, Executive Sponsorship, Implementation, Staff Buy-In, Why Career and College, Why CCR

    Most professional development (PD) feels like another box to check. Sit-and-get. Slides, acronyms, maybe a survey at the end. And when it comes to college and career readiness (CCR), many teachers(and other school staff) are either overwhelmed, undertrained, or unsure where they fit in. How many times have you heard “That’s not my job.” Here’s…

  • Making the Schedule Work for Students: How Principals and Registrars Can Collaborate for Better Outcomes

    July 4, 2025
    Course Access, Master Course Scheduling, Registration

    Building a master schedule isn’t just about plugging courses into time slots—it’s about expanding opportunity. In secondary schools, the collaboration between principals and registrars is one of the most important partnerships for ensuring students have access to the courses, teachers, and supports they need to graduate ready for career, graduation, college and life. But too…

  • Systems That Puts Students in the Driver’s Seat

    June 1, 2025
    Advising, Continuous Improvement Process, Defining Success, Graduation & Post-Secondary Pathways

    Here’s a simple truth: when students own their learning and future planning, they stay engaged—and outcomes improve. But that kind of ownership doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a clear, tiered framework that meets students where they are and helps them move forward with confidence. Here is an example of how to build a tiered…

  • From Compliance to Connection: Using Comprehensive School Counseling to Empower Students with Disabilities for Lifelong Success

    From Compliance to Connection: Using Comprehensive School Counseling to Empower Students with Disabilities for Lifelong Success

    May 16, 2025
    Continuous Improvement Process, Graduation & Post-Secondary Pathways, Interventions, Why CCR

    Let’s be honest: transition planning for students with disabilities can sometimes feel like checking a compliance box. Every IEP includes it. Every team discusses it. But does it always lead to meaningful, future-ready outcomes? The truth is, many students with disabilities still leave high school without a clear, supported path to college, career, or independent…

  • Advising Isn’t Extra—It’s Essential: A Real-World Blueprint for Building Systems

    May 2, 2025
    Advising, Course Access, Registration, Why CCR

    You’re juggling a hundred spinning plates—budgets, staffing, student data, community partnerships—and still trying to make sure every kid has a real shot at success after graduation.We see you. You’re not just leading a school or district—you’re navigating shifting requirements, rising community expectations, and a system that too often leaves kids behind. And here’s the kicker:…

  • How Smart Data Use Helps Districts Adapt to a Changing World

    How Smart Data Use Helps Districts Adapt to a Changing World

    April 25, 2025
    Continuous Improvement Process, Data and Dashboards, Graduation & Post-Secondary Pathways, Progress Monitoring

    School and district leaders today are navigating a constant state of change—shifting graduation requirements, evolving labor market demands, and unpredictable after-high school program admissions criteria. It’s no longer enough to have a strong plan; you need a system that can flex, adapt, and grow with you. But too often, school improvement efforts stall because data…

  • Master Course Scheduling: The Middle School Connection to Success

    April 18, 2025
    Course Access, Course Catalog, Master Course Scheduling

    In every school district, the mission is clear: to guide students toward a future full of opportunity. Yet, middle school is a critical turning point where students either build momentum for success or fall behind. The challenge? Ensuring that every student has access to the right academic pathways, career exploration, and support systems to thrive.…

  • Career Ready: What Data Should You Measure?

    Career Ready: What Data Should You Measure?

    April 11, 2025
    Continuous Improvement Process, Data and Dashboards, Defining Success

    Every student’s college goals are anchored to their future career. The purpose of college is to lead to a career that aligns with a student’s values and priorities. Yet, in secondary education, career readiness is often treated as secondary to college preparation. Student survey data overwhelmingly shows that students want to understand why they should…

  • College Ready: What Data Should You Measure

    College Ready: What Data Should You Measure

    March 28, 2025
    Continuous Improvement Process, Data and Dashboards, Defining Success

    What data should you focus on to see rea l college success outcomes for your students?

  • Graduation: A Maze of Course Requirements

    Graduation: A Maze of Course Requirements

    March 14, 2025
    Course Access, Graduation & Post-Secondary Pathways

    Graduation requirements can feel like a bureaucratic maze of red tape. Students think they’re on track, only to realize too late that a course didn’t count. Meanwhile, schools struggle to ensure every student has access to the right classes to graduate and to meet admissions requirements. District staff are often so far removed they don’t…

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Next Step Educational Consulting

Next Step Educational Consulting

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