The Ecology of College Readiness

Despite extensive research, policies, and practical efforts toimprove college readiness in the United States, a large proportionof low-income students remain unprepared to enter and succeed inhigher education.This issue draws on the human ecology theory of UrieBronfenbrenner (1917-2005) to offer a fresh perspective thataccounts for the complexity of the interacting personal,organizational, and societal factors in play. Ecological principlesshift the focus to individual differences in the ways that studentsengage environments and to the connections across students'immediate settings and relationships.Viewing college readiness within an ecological system alsoreveals how the settings where development occurs are in turnshaped by more distant environments. The aspirations and behaviorsthat affect students' college preparation originate inopportunities, resources, and hazards beyond their immediateenvironments. The ecological lens illuminates the need forcoordinated, comprehensive efforts that affect students across thevarious levels of their environment and provides a framework foradvancing college readiness research, policy, and educationalpractice.This is the 5th issue of the 38th volume of the Jossey-Bassseries ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monographis the definitive analysis of a tough higher education issue, basedon thorough research of pertinent literature and institutionalexperiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Notedpractitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write thereports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscriptbefore publication.