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

Dropout Prevention
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released a new practice guide, Dropout Prevention. This guide provides six specific recommendations for reducing dropout rates in high schools and middle schools. Designed for school- and district-level administrators, the guide offers processes for diagnosing dropout problems, intervention practices, and schoolwide reforms that can be of use to educators, school boards, and policymakers in implementing dropout prevention strategies. (September 2008)

Average SAT Scores Remained Flat in 2008
Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2008 were the same as last year, even as a larger, more diverse group took the test, a College Board report released Tuesday says. SAT proponents say scores are lower now because a more diverse group of students is taking the exam. This USA Today article examines the report findings. (August 2008)

National High School Center Releases Suite of Products to Aid Successful Postsecondary Transitions
This suite of products focusing on postsecondary pathways includes:

• Preparing High School Students for Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Employment
  This issue brief highlights lessons from selected policies and programs designed to improve students’ preparation for postsecondary pathways. (August 2008)
• Striking the Balance: Career Academies Combine Academic Rigor and Workplace Relevance
  This snapshot takes a closer look at the implementations of the Career Academy model. (August 2008)
• Evaluating the Impact of Interventions That Promote Successful Transitions from High School
  This research brief examines the challenges and opportunities presented in evaluating whether an intervention achieves defined goals of increasing students’ educational attainment, employment, and earnings after high school. (August 2008)

Implementing Graduation Counts: State Progress to Date, 2008
States are on track to publicly report their high school graduation rates by 2012 using the National Governors Association’s formula, according to a new report from NGA’s Center for Best Practices. The report, Implementing Graduation Counts: State Progress to Date, 2008, said 16 states use the NGA Graduation Counts Compact formula to calcu­late and report their high school graduation rates. Five more states plan to implement the formula later this year, eight more will next year, and nine more will in 2010. Six states plan to implement the formula in 2011, and one plans to do so in 2012. (July 2008)

 

 

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