Postsecondary Readiness (formerly known as “Transition Readiness”) is the attainment of the necessary knowledge, skills and dispositions for a student to successfully transition to the next level of his or her educational career. 

The Postsecondary Readiness Indicator is one of six state indicators included in Kentucky’s Accountability System. To demonstrate postsecondary readiness, high school students must earn a high school diploma or be classified as a grade 12 non-graduate AND meet one type of readiness (Academic or Career).  

Academic Readiness Options 

Academic ready students will meet benchmark scores in one of either quantitative reasoning or natural sciences category OR one oral/written communication; visual and performing arts; humanities; or social and behavioral sciences category from a variety of options: 

• Meeting or exceeding a college readiness benchmark score on the college admissions examination or a college placement examination as established by the Council on Postsecondary Education; or 

• Completing one KDE-approved dual credit course and receiving a grade of C or higher, or 

• Completing one Advanced Placement (AP) course and receiving a score of three (3) or higher on the AP assessment; or 

• Receiving a score of five (5) or higher on one examination for an International Baccalaureate (IB) course; or  

• Scoring at or above “e” on one (1) Cambridge Advanced International (CAI) examinations; or 

• Completing a combination of academic readiness indicators listed above. 

​​Career Readiness Options

Career ready students will meet criteria by earning credit through one of the following options: 

• Scoring at or above the benchmark on industry certifications as approved by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) on an annual basis (with additional credit for credentials in career pathways in KWIB-approved high demand sectors); or 

• Scoring at or above the benchmark on the career and technical education end-of-program (EOP) assessment for articulated credit; or 

• Completing one KDE-approved Career and Technical Education dual credit course and receiving a grade of C or higher, or 

• Completing a KDE-approved or labor cabinet-approved apprenticeship. For more information on career readiness, visit the Career and Technical Education Career Readiness webpage. 

​​Alternate Assessment Options 

Students participating in the alternate assessment program shall meet criteria based on academic or career alternate assessment requirements. ​

Post-Secondary Readiness Tools