Defining readiness
Advanced a multidimensional understanding of college and career readiness that distinguishes being eligible from being prepared to succeed.
Research · policy · practical tools
Readiness research translated into action.
EdImagine is the home of David Conley’s work on college, career, and lifelong readiness—and the research foundation behind Insightfull.
Four KeysDeveloper of an influential college and career readiness framework
CEPRFounder of the Center for Educational Policy Research
EPICFounder and longtime leader of the Educational Policy Improvement Center
AuthorBooks and publications on readiness, assessment, and education policy
Current initiative
Insightfull helps students turn readiness reflection into a realistic next step.
Insightfull brings decades of readiness research into a student-facing experience. Seven short mini-quizzes generate a personalized readiness report, insights into five Durable Skills, and readiness-suggested career directions. A short planning step then produces one practical Action Plan.
The experience is developmental. It shows what a student’s current self-reported readiness may support; it does not prescribe a career or predict future success.
- 01ReflectComplete seven readiness mini-quizzes
- 02UnderstandReceive a personalized Student Readiness Report
- 03ChooseSelect what to investigate and what support would help
- 04PlanReceive a focused two-page Action Plan
About David Conley
A career devoted to understanding what readiness really requires.
David Conley is President and principal partner of EdImagine and Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon. His work has helped educators, policymakers, and organizations move beyond eligibility measures toward a fuller understanding of what students need to succeed after high school.
He developed the Four Keys to College and Career Readiness, founded the Center for Educational Policy Research, and founded and led the Educational Policy Improvement Center. His research, books, policy work, and assessment leadership provide the foundation for EdImagine’s current work, including Insightfull.
Today, he focuses on disseminating useful knowledge about readiness and considers selected speaking, advising, research, and consulting engagements that align with his expertise and interests.
Contact DavidSelected work and impact
A coherent body of work—from defining readiness to helping students act on it.
Together, these contributions show how a research framework became a practical way to help students and organizations understand and strengthen readiness.
Developing the Four Keys
Organized readiness around cognitive strategies, content knowledge, learning skills and techniques, and transition knowledge and skills.
Building research organizations
Founded CEPR and founded and led EPIC to connect readiness research with policy, assessment, and implementation.
Informing policy and assessment
Contributed research and practical guidance to state and national efforts involving readiness, assessment, accountability, and education improvement.
Writing for the field
Published books, articles, policy briefs, and explanatory resources for educators, policymakers, researchers, and families.
Creating Insightfull
Translated readiness concepts into a practical, student-facing experience that connects reflection, career exploration, and action.
Ideas and resources
Useful starting points for understanding readiness.
A curated collection of enduring ideas will give visitors useful starting points without depending on a frequent publishing schedule.
Framework
The Four Keys to College and Career Readiness
A concise introduction to the knowledge, strategies, skills, and transition capabilities that support success after high school.
Selected writing
Readiness, assessment, and education policy
Evergreen articles and essays, with the earlier EdImagine blog clearly preserved as an archive from 2015–2017.
View the current archiveBooks and publications
Long-form work on readiness and assessment
Selected books, research, policy briefs, videos, and presentations organized around what visitors are trying to understand.
View current resourcesEdImagine is generating some of the most creative, cutting-edge thinking in the nation in a number of key policy areas. David Conley’s Four Keys model in particular has been extremely influential in shaping state policy around college and career readiness.
Contact
Start with a clear reason to connect.
EdImagine is not actively soliciting general consulting work. David considers selected inquiries involving Insightfull pilots, readiness research, assessment, policy, speaking, and advising when they align with his expertise and interests.