Lumina’s state policy agenda outlines how states can shape their systems of learning after high school using strong leadership, budget authority, and other policy options. This comprehensive framework can be used to create a learning system that better serves today’s student.
Set a Goal
Set an ambitious goal
Statewide goals help state leaders, college and university officials, employers, and community representatives establish a shared agenda. A strong goal meets these criteria:
Quantifiable. Includes a number or percentage increase that can be quantitatively measured over time
Challenging. Represents a stretch. For example, it cannot be easily achieved by following historic trends
Time-specific. Tied to a long-term target date to demonstrate commitment and drive expectations
Addresses gaps. Designed to close attainment gaps for underrepresented populations, particularly students who are Black, Hispanic, or Native American; people from low-income families, and adults who have not yet earned credentials.
Codified. Formalized in a way that influences the state's postsecondary strategic plan, budgeting practices and/or state policy initiatives
Track Progress
Track progress toward the goal
Accountability metrics and dashboards help support and measure progress toward state attainment goals. This includes:
Metrics. Limited number of metrics are identified to monitor interim progress toward the goal
State-identified priority populations. Metrics are disaggregated by the state’s priority populations to identify and monitor gaps
Publicly available dashboards. Data dashboard is published online and accessible to the public to show these metrics and their trends
Annual reports. Metrics and dashboard are updated at least annually
