New Online Tool!
A Self Assessment Tool: A Coherent Approach to High School Improvement
High school improvement initiatives often focus on specific intervention strategies, programs, or priority topics (e.g., dropout intervention). However, research shows that systemic and sustainable improvement can be achieved only when initiatives are implemented with consideration for the broader education contexts in which they operate.
The National High School Center is pleased to announce a new online, interactive tool that helps users assess their high school improvement efforts. The Self-Assessment Tool: A Coherent Approach to High School Improvement enables users at the school or district level to a) identify the strengths and weaknesses of their current high school improvement efforts, and b) align and build on these current and planned reform initiatives to develop a comprehensive high school improvement plan that will result in rigorous, high-quality teaching and learning for all students. This tool is an online version of A Coherent Approach to High School Improvement: A District and School Self-Assessment Tool, released in January 2011.
This tool is based on the National High School Center’s Eight Elements of High School Improvement, a systemic framework that builds on comprehensive high school reform research. More than a diagnostic tool, this self-assessment is a starting point for identifying high school improvement priorities. The tool includes:
- A cumulative rating system to assess the degree of implementation of each of the Eight Elements in a school or district.
- Printable reports that highlight the level of implementation of each Element.
- The ability to save self-assessment data so users can update reports as school improvement efforts are further implemented.
The online tool allows users to start and complete the assessment over time. If you have questions regarding the use of this tool, please email them to hsimprovement@betterhighschools.org.
New Updates to the Early Warning System (EWS) Tool v2.0 and Technical Manual
The National High School Center released its enhanced Early Warning System (EWS) Tool v2.0, a free Microsoft Excel-based program,in September 2010. The EWS Tool v2.0 relies on readily available student-level data (attendance, course failures, GPA, and credit accumulation) to automatically calculate research-based indicators and identify students who are at risk for dropping out of high school. The tool has already been downloaded by over 800 users, and is currently being implemented in schools, districts, and states across the country.
The National High School Center has recently released updated versions of the EWS Tool v2.0 and the Technical Manual to better support users:
- Update to the EWS Tool v2.0: A new Export Data feature has been added, which allows you to export and save the data from the Student Information page and the Student Interventions page as source files.
- Updates to the Technical Manual: Additional instructions have been included for updating student information data. New “hints” have also been added to better help users create source files and set up the Student Information page.
Both the updated version of the EWS Tool v2.0 and the Technical Manual can be downloaded free-of-charge from our Web site, along with EWS Tool v2.0 source file templates, an archived Webinar presentation that reviews the research used to develop the tool and demonstrates the tool’s functions, the National High School Center’s Early Warning System Implementation Guide, and several other reports and resources related to developing and implementing early warning systems. Please feel free to contact us at EWS@betterhighschools.org with any questions related to early warning systems or the EWS Tool v2.0.
Midwest High School SIG Regional Conference: May 18-19, 2011
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Comprehensive Centers, will host a series of four regional capacity building conferences in support of state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies (LEAs) and schools implementing the School Improvement Grants (SIG).
The National High School Center is collaborating with the Great Lakes East and Great Lakes West Comprehensive Centers to host the Midwest High School SIG regional conference May 18-19, 2011, in Chicago, IL. The meeting, Leading Successful High School Turnarounds: Learning From Research and Practice, will focus on high school SIG grantees, and SIG teams from 35 states are registered to attend. Participants will have opportunities to learn from researchers and high school administrators and staff, as well as discuss and discover strategies for sustaining their improvement work. The meeting will also provide district and state teams with an opportunity to share challenges and plans with one another and further strategize.
The National High School Center has also participated in the Western (Los Angeles, CA)and Eastern (Washington, DC) regional conferences held earlier this month, and plans to present at the Central regional conference in late May. Keep checking our Web site and blog for the latest SIG updates!
Visit Our Blog to Learn About Current High School Issues and Resources
 Our High School Matters blog provides an objective perspective on the latest research, topical issues, and events that affect high school improvement and other related national, state and local K-12 initiatives.
Updated several times a week, recent entries have covered topics that include implementing RTI in high schools, recommendations to keep English Language Learners challenged and graduating, and questions and answers about implementing an early warning system. Check back frequently for new posts or follow us on Twitter to be notified when a new entry is posted.
Follow Us Through RSS, Facebook and Twitter
 The National High School Center is on Facebook and Twitter, and also has an RSS feed. These mediums offer quick and easy methods for accessing our newest publications, resources, and the latest information on high school improvement. Visit our Web site to subscribe to our RSS feed, become our fan on Facebook,or follow us on Twitter at NHSCatAIR and have the latest National High School Center news sent directly to you.
Upcoming Conferences
The National High School Center wants to keep you informed of upcoming conferences and events pertinent to your work. The High School Events Calendar on our Web site lists national conferences, workshops, and dialogues sponsored by organizations around the country focused on high school improvement. If you are sponsoring a high school-related event, we encourage you to submit the event for posting on the Calendar through the online form on our Web site.
About Us
The National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), in collaboration with its partners, strives to provide the most up-to-date, accessible information on breakthroughs in high school improvement, vetted best practices, hands on technical assistance to the Regional Comprehensive Centers, and an easy-to-use navigation of the latest research on creating and maintaining excellent high schools. The National High School Center does not endorse any interventions nor does it conduct field studies. The National High School Center Web site is available at www.betterhighschools.org.
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