betterhighschools.org Linking Research and Resources for Better High Schools

Linking Research and Resources for Better High Schools

The National High School Center is a central source of information and expertise on high school improvement issues for the Regional Comprehensive Centers. In helping the Regional Comprehensive Centers build capacity of states across the nation to effectively implement the goals of No Child Left Behind relating to high schools, the National High School Center identifies effective programs and tools, offers user-friendly products and provides high-quality technical assistance to support the use of research-based approaches within high school learning communities.

Spotlight

Diplomas Count 2008: School to College
As the nation struggles to close its graduation gap, Diplomas Count 2008 examines states' efforts to forge stronger connections between precollegiate and postsecondary education. This year's report from Education Week draws heavily on a new Education Commission of the States database that examines states' efforts to use P-16 or P-20 councils to create seamless pre-kindergarten-through-college systems and better prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce. (June 2008)

On Ramp to College: A State Policymaker’s Guide to Dual Enrollment
This guide from Jobs for the Future reviews trends in a growing number of states that see dual enrollment as a way to expand college opportunity—particularly for students who might not be considered college-bound. The guide shows how dual enrollment can serve as an “on ramp” to postsecondary education for students who are otherwise unlikely to attend college. The guide also highlights successful state-wide dual enrollment efforts, provides a step-by-step plan for policymakers to create successful programs and assess current approaches, and guides state officials in how to provide a wide range of students with equal access to dual enrollment and make it part of a continuous system for grades 9-16. (May 2008)

Implementation Study of Smaller Learning Communities: Final Report
This U.S. Department of Education report describes the strategies and practices used in implementing SLCs based on surveys and case studies of the first cohort of grantee schools funded under this program, as well as analysis of annual performance reports submitted by SLC grantees. The study examines the principal strategies, models, and practices that these schools implemented, the factors facilitating and inhibiting implementation in SLC schools, and how outcomes for SLC schools, as measured by student achievement and school behavior, change over time. (May 2008)

Crafting a New Vision for High School: How States Can Join Academic and Technical Studies to Promote More Powerful Learning
A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board calls for states to align their career and technical curriculum with college-readiness standards, conduct end-of-course assessments, and establish panels of college faculty, high school teachers, school officials, and employers to devise curriculum frameworks and course syllabuses. It also encourages states to provide incentives for districts and high schools to work together with two-year colleges, technology centers and employers to craft courses. (May 2008)

 

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