As the college and career readiness (CCR) landscape has evolved, many schools and districts have invested in digital resources and CCR platforms to provide their students, staff, and families with high-quality tools that support exploration, planning, and decision-making about postsecondary next steps. As the technology has matured, the functionality and features have expanded to offer nuanced, dynamic, and personalized guidance and support for these critical processes. 

A great resource, however, only adds value if it is utilized. 

Unfortunately, students are not always fully aware of all that a tool or platform can offer. And many districts struggle with getting their students to take full advantage of the breadth and depth of information and support available through their CCR platforms. Use these tips and suggestions to tailor communication in ways that highlight what is available and help students connect their personal goals with the platform’s tools, resources, and opportunities.

Make it Meaningful to Students

It is not enough to simply share information about what is available through CCR platforms or other CCR-related tools. The information must be paired with messaging that quickly shows students why it matters and how it connects to what they are working on right now.

• Personalized Messaging: Schools and districts should align outreach with students’ immediate tasks and milestones. For example, as seniors begin filling out college applications, highlight how the CCR platform can help them build a resume that integrates seamlessly with the Common App. For juniors, point to features that support career exploration, standardized test prep, or identifying colleges that fit their academic profile and interests. For sophomores, emphasize tools that help them connect course selection to future pathways. And for freshmen, introduce engaging career interest surveys or exploration activities that make the platform feel approachable and relevant from the start. 

• Strategic Timing: Coordinate communication with key points in the academic year such as testing season, course registration, scholarship deadlines, or college decision dates. This allows students to view the platform as a tool that can support their goals and current to-do lists. 

• Student Mentors and Ambassadors: Students are often more prone to listen to the advice of peers and friends rather than adults. Districts and schools might consider creating a student mentor program for college and career readiness. These mentors can model how they have used the CCR platform to explore pathways, apply to colleges, build resumes, or connect with opportunities, making the platform feel practical and approachable. By sharing authentic stories and lessons from their own journeys, student ambassadors provide relatable examples that resonate with younger students and inspire them to engage with the tools themselves. 

Use Student-Centered Communication Channels

It is vital to use channels that are regularly accessed by students to share information and support, rather than relying on communication methods that typically work for adults like long emails, formal newsletters, or static website postings. Instead, use student-centered approaches that meet students where they prefer to get information and, therefore, are more likely to engage with the content. 

• Use of Video and Podcast Mechanisms: Many students consume a great deal of information on video and audio platforms rather than in email or through Learning Management System messaging platforms. For information specifically geared toward students, consider using YouTube Live to host interactive Q&A sessions, creating short videos to highlight quick tips, or using AI tools to create short podcast clips that explain different CCR topics in an engaging, on-demand format. 

• Social Media Updates: Even though most social media is not inherently productive for schoolwork, it remains a central way students get and share information. Utilizing platforms like Instagram to post short, visually engaging updates can help districts capture student attention and direct them to CCR resources at the right time.

• Text Reminders and Push Notifications: Quick, direct messages are one of the most effective ways to prompt action. Sending short, timely reminders about deadlines, upcoming events, or new opportunities via text or app push notifications helps ensure students receive information in the moment they need it and can act on it immediately.

A Goldilocks Approach to CCR Communication

Some schools and districts almost overwhelm their students with messaging and information about resources–sharing out information about every CCR topic with all students and families. It is an admirable goal to want to make sure that no student or family misses out on these critical steps. This approach, however, can result in students tuning out because much of the information does not apply to them right now. 

Targeting information in thoughtful and nuanced ways–information that is “just right” for where students are now and what is in front of them–allows the communications to spark action and engagement. And giving students and families different opportunities to ask questions or get clarification about how the resources can be utilized for their unique set of needs and aspirations means that every student can make the most of the CCR support.  

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