North Carolina is right in line with national statistics, six out of ten graduates are not prepared for college.

 “If we’re being told 60% of our high school graduates have to have some kind of readiness assessment at community college or the next stop, then we have to do better than we’re doing,” said Governor Bev Perdue.

 The governor has revived an Education Cabinet, consisting of leaders like NC Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, State Board of Education Chairman

Bill Harrison, Community College President Scott Ralls and UNC System President Erskine Bowles, to provide better cooperation throughout public education.

Their goal is to make students ready for a 2-year or 4-year institution along with a career.

But with an overall state graduation rate of  72%, the changes will have to start as soon as possible.

 "Unless we change fundamentally the product that we call a high school graduate, we can not be competitive in the world. North Carolina and America continues to go backwards on science and math and engineering students,” said Governor Perdue.

As this group works to improve achievement standards grades K-12, they’ll also work toward one common assessment for 10th or 11th graders that can be used for placement in community college or a state university.

State Schools Superintendent June Atkinson is confident the move will come quickly and with little expense.

“We can do a better job of being more effective with what we have now, she said. “I anticipate the State Board of Education will move aggressively to the point we have a common assessment to determine college and career placement.”

The State Board of Education will discuss the matter next month and the Education Cabinet will review the report at its next meeting in January.

Watch our NBC 17 News report on this subject in the video monitor above.