http://www.betterhighschools.com/ The National High School Center, based at the American Institutes for Research, provides the latest research, user-friendly tools and products, and high-quality technical assistance on high school improvement issues. On March 29, 2010, Delaware and Tennessee were named the two finalists for Phase 1 of the Race to the Top competition. Visit the Department of Education's Web site to view all the state applications that were submitted for Phase 1 as well as the reviewers' scores and comments. http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase1-applications/index.html Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST The Obama administration's blueprint to overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) will support state and local efforts to help ensure that all students graduate prepared for college and a career. The plan will ask states to ensure that their academic standards prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace, and to create accountability systems that recognize student growth and school progress toward meeting that goal. http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/blueprint.pdf Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) have released the first official public draft of the K-12 standards as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a process being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. http://www.corestandards.org/ Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST On March 1, 2010, President Obama announced Grad Nation, a national effort to help turn around persistently low-performing schools, reduce the dropout rate, and promote a culture of college readiness. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-steps-reduce-dropout-rate-and-prepare-students-college-an Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST This handbook provides practical and useful guidance on the models and strategies required and recommended for use in applying for School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds, and includes references to the underlying research and connections to useful resources. http://www.centerii.org/handbook/ Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST During this Webinar, presented February 11, 2010, Dr. Lou Danielson and High School Tiered Interventions Initiative staff shared information on how the essential elements of RTI can be implemented in high schools, what some of the associated challenges and considerations are, and how contextual factors specific to high school settings make RTI implementation increasingly complex and challenging. http://www.betterhighschools.org/webinar/default.aspx Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST This report is designed to guide educators in collecting and analyzing valuable student achievement data that can help them determine if and how high school interventions for underprepared students are working to effectively prepare them for college and careers. http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NCEA_CollegeCareerReadiness.pdf Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST This tool is designed to help districts and schools assess current high school education policies and practices, identify areas of strengths and limitations, and implement coherent and sustainable school reform initiatives. http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/EightElementsNeedsAssessment.pdf Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST Join our online discussion through the end of January on Common Core State Standards Initiative featuring Dane Linn, Director, Education Division, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. http://www.betterhighschools.com/expert/ask_core.asp Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST Elaine Allensworth, Julia Gwynne, Holly Hart, and Joy Lesnick from CCSR are now available to discuss their research on how students with disabilities can stay on-track and graduate high school. http://www.betterhighschools.com/expert/default.asp Tues, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST Presented December 8, 2009, this Webinar featured report authors Julia Gwynne, Joy Lesnick, and Holly Hart from CCSR. Report findings were presented with a discussion on graduation rates and on-track indicators for students with disabilities. http://www.betterhighschools.com/webinar/default.aspx Tues, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST A new report from the National High School Center and the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago found that freshman year course performance (absences, course failures, course credits and GPA) can predict which students with disabilities are most at risk for dropping out of high school. http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSCCCSRSpecialEd.pdf Tues, 05 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST Tennessee Department of Education has announced 31 high schools that have been awarded federal Title I School Improvement High School Redesign Grants. Each school submitted a redesign plan using the National High School Center's Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework as the research model. http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/3181 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Governor Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education, was our October Expert. Review all of the questions and answers related to the Federal Role in high school improvement. http://www.betterhighschools.com/expert/ask_federal.asp Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST The National High School Center is now on Twitter! Follow us to receive high school related news and information several times a week. http://twitter.com/nhscatair Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST The National High School Center is now on Facebook! Become our Fan to stay up-to-date on the latest news and resources related to high school improvement. http://www.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FNational-High-School-Center%2F128903199252 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Access our ARRA resources that can help states and districts plan how to apply this funding so that it has the greatest impact on high school improvement. http://www.betterhighschools.com/ARRA.asp Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Effectively Educating English Language Learners at the High School Level: What Research and Practice Tell Us. http://www.betterhighschools.org/webinar/ELLWebinar.aspx Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST The 2009 edition of Diplomas Count, titled Broader Horizons: The Challenge of College Readiness for All Students, examines the idea that some form of postsecondary education is crucial to students’ success after high school. http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2009/06/11/index.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST