Operationalizing the Postsecondary Value Framework through the PSEO Coalition
Helping states, systems, and institutions move from conversations about postsecondary value to practical implementation
The PSEO Coalition launched the Postsecondary Value Framework (PVF) Implementation Community to help members explore how education and workforce outcomes data can be used to better understand the value of postsecondary credentials.
As questions about return on investment, economic mobility, and workforce alignment continue to shape higher education policy, PSEO Coalition members sought the Postsecondary Value Framework in ways that reflect their own policy environments, data systems, and institutional priorities.
The Implementation Community brought together state agencies, higher education systems, and institutions working at different stages of readiness. The community was designed to support applied learning, peer exchange, and flexible implementation. Participants explored four core areas:
- Building framework literacy
- Conducting data-driven analysis
- Communicating with stakeholders
- Aligning policy and practice alignment
Through this work, participants surfaced important lessons about what it takes to operationalize postsecondary value in real-world settings and identified opportunities for future collaboration and resource development across the field.
Communicating Postsecondary Value
Today’s conversations about higher education are increasingly shaped by questions about value. Students, families, employers, policymakers, and institutional leaders are all asking whether a postsecondary credential is worth the investment — but they aren’t always asking the same questions. Effective communication begins by recognizing that postsecondary value is multidimensional.
These materials support communicating about postsecondary value with confidence and offer practical guidance for real-world conversations.
