Many partner organization staff members, employers, K–12 and postsecondary educators, partner state team members, and other colleagues took part in the formulation of the American Diploma Project's (ADP) goals and objectives, the design and implementation of its research, the project’s administration, and the review of ADP’s final report and recommendations. Without their tireless efforts, this report would not have been possible. In particular, ADP expresses its gratitude to Mike Smith and Jorge Ruiz-de-Velasco at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for their generous support and to Bob Schwartz, former president of Achieve, Inc., for helping to launch the project.

Content Area Experts and Employers

Below is a list of content area experts in the fields of English and mathematics, as well as employers who worked to refine the ADP benchmarks to ensure that they are consistent with postsecondary and employer expectations. Many of these individuals also provided ADP with samples of work from their companies or institutions of higher education to help illustrate how high school graduates would use the skills and knowledge found in the ADP benchmarks once they left high school.

Current and Former Partner State Team Members

Before applying to participate as an ADP partner state, each state assembled a team of state leaders — the governor, the chief state school officer, state higher education system heads, a business leader and others — to support, guide and contribute to the work of the project. It's through the efforts of these individuals that policy changes reflecting the ADP benchmarks have been implemented in partner states and also through their efforts that much of the work of the project has been made possible.

Postsecondary Study (Gap Analysis) Participants

The following people participated in the ADP’s Gap Analysis meetings. They analyzed the content of state high school exit exams and postsecondary admissions and placement tests. Representing two- and four-year state colleges and university systems, many also helped to define the postsecondary expectations for incoming freshmen reflected in the ADP benchmarks. Many also provided ADP with samples of work from their institutions of higher education to help illustrate how high school graduates would use the skills and knowledge found in the ADP benchmarks once they left high school.

Workplace Study Participants

In 2002, the following business professionals were surveyed and interviewed by staff from the National Alliance of Business, an original ADP partner organization, to confirm the set of skills and knowledge necessary for success in the high-growth and highly skilled occupations identified in the ADP workplace study. This research resulted in the preliminary draft of the ADP workplace expectations. Many of these individuals also provided ADP with samples of work from their companies to help illustrate how high school graduates would use the skills and knowledge found in the ADP benchmarks once they left high school.

Partner Organization Staff and Other Colleagues

The following people from partner organizations and beyond have been of invaluable help to the establishment of the ADP benchmarks and to the policy efforts in ADP partner states. Many also provided ADP with samples of work from their companies or institutions of higher education to help illustrate how high school graduates would use the skills and knowledge found in the ADP benchmarks once they left high school.