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| Emerging Evidence on Improving High School Student Achievement and Graduation Rates: The Effects of Four Popular Improvement Programs |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: MCRC summarizes evaluations of four reform models: Career Academies, First Things First, Project Graduation Really Achieves Dreams (GRAD), and Talent Development. The brief identifies problems with implementation and highlights challenges as well as promising practices. Essentially, structural changes to promote personalization and instructional improvement can improve achievement (e.g., small learning communities and faculty advisory systems, extended class periods, special catch-up courses, high-quality curricula, preservice and in-service training, and professional learning communities). Students who enter ninth grade facing substantial academic deficits can make good progress if initiatives single them out for special support, including caring teachers and special courses. |
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| Project GRAD |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.PROJECTGRAD.ORG/SITE/PP.ASP?C=FULTJEMUKRH&B=457403 |
| Format: URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: Project GRAD USA |
| Abstract: Project GRAD provides a model to increase the percentage of high school graduates and those enrolling in postsecondary education by systemically improving the educational program in the elementary, middle, and high schools in a feeder pattern. The GRAD model requires that an independent nonprofit entity be established in each site that will mobilize community, political, and business leadership to work with the school district to provide stability and additional funding. It provides programs and strategies to strengthen the curriculum, improve teaching effectiveness, and raise academic standards. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information about project. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Selected States’ Responses to Supporting High School English Language Learners |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/NHSCPOLICYBRIEF_STA... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This policy brief provides state-level examples of efforts to improve the assessment and reporting of data. This brief also showcases effective partnerships between state departments and the Regional Comprehensive Centers in strengthening educational outcomes for ELLs on the secondary school level. (April 2009) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
| How to read this information > |
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| The High Cost of High School Dropouts: What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.ALL4ED.ORG/FILES/HIGHCOST.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Alliance for Excellent Education |
| Abstract: According to this issue brief dated August 2009, more than 7,000 students become dropouts every school day, totaling nearly 1.3 million students per year who will not graduate from high school with their peers. High school dropouts from the Class of 2009 represent nearly $335 billion in lost income. Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia, noted, "Unless America's high schools significantly improve their graduation rates, nearly 13 million students will drop out over the next decade with a massive loss...of $3 trillion." Included in the brief are statistics on who does not graduate from high school and how much a high school dropout costs the United States. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this brief, but the information is based on relevant research and the author's expert opinion. |
| How to read this information > |
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| The Progress of Education Reform 2007: Same-Sex Schooling |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.ECS.ORG/CLEARINGHOUSE/72/81/7281.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Provider: Education Commission of the States |
| Abstract: This brief supplies a summary of single-sex education research prepared by the American Institute for Research of the U.S. Department of Education, which found the research is abundant but far from conclusive. It also includes links to other resources on single-sex education and details about the revised Title IX regulations. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: According to the report, the research that it summarized on single-sex education is rife with methodological errors, lack of controls, and is influenced by the proponents' positions on the topic. |
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| The SREB-State Middle Grades Consortium: Making the Middle Grades Matter (MMGM) |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.SREB.ORG/PROGRAMS/MIDDLEGRADES/MIDDLEGRADESINDEX.ASP |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) |
| Abstract: MMGM, the middle school initiative of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), is based on the position that most students can master rigorous academic curriculum and that improving student achievement in the elementary and middle school student is necessary for success in ninth grade and high school. MMGM's framework for middle school success includes these key components: a rigorous and relevant academic core, supportive relationships that help students make successful transitions from middle to high school, and teacher advisors to work with parents and students to set goals and select courses. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: Four research reports on the condition of middle schools was the basis for a framework to improve middle schools. This framework includes research-based components but does not include references to any evaluations. This is a brochure that overviews the framework of the program. |
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| Catching Up: Effect of the Talent Development Ninth Grade Instructional Intervention in Reading and Mathematics in High-Poverty High Schools |
| URL: HTTP://BUL.SAGEPUB.COM/CGI/CONTENT/ABSTRACT/88/641/3 |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Johns Hopkins University, School of Education |
| Abstract: This study used multiple regression analysis of standardized test and survey data from high-poverty high schools in two large urban districts to evaluate initial impacts of the Talent Development High Schools (TDHS) ninth-grade instructional program in reading and mathematics. Students in TDHS schools significantly outperformed those in control schools in mathematics and reading achievement gains, and also passed Algebra I at higher rates. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Pre-, post-, and match-control comparisons show that students in TDHS significantly outperformed students in the control schools in mathematics and reading. |
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| Connecting Entrance and Departure: The Transition to Ninth Grade and High School Dropout |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.PRINCIPALSPARTNERSHIP.COM/NINTHGRADETRANSITIONS.DOC |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: Harvard Civil Rights Project |
| Abstract: This study of Philadelphia high school students revealed that, in addition to demographic factors, the percentage of ninth-grade courses failed is a strong predictor of students' dropping out. Academic engagement and satisfaction with school decreased the chances of dropping out, but there was no evidence about the causes for those effects. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Logistic regression estimated the effects of student characteristics on dropping out. Controlling for demographic and family characteristics, previous school performance, and attitudes and ambitions, ninth-grade failure was a strong predictor of dropping out. |
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| CSRQ Center Report on Middle and High School Comprehensive School Reform Models |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.AIR.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/DOCUMENTS/MSHS%202006%20REPORT_FINA... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: The Comprehensive School Reform Quality Center (CSRQ) |
| Abstract: This consumer guide provides comparative ratings on the effectiveness and quality of 18 middle and high school reform models that are used extensively in the U.S. The CSRQ Center screened nearly 1,500 documents and reviewed 197 studies. They used rigorous standards that are aligned with the requirements for scientifically based research. Each model is rated on a number of dimensions, including evidence of raising student achievement. The reviews provide education decision makers with a profile of each model and the evidence needed to make decisions to meet locally defined needs. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: This report attempts to characterize the evidence of the effectiveness and quality of 18 widely used middle and high school whole-school reform models by using qualitative and quantitative methods. This report provides descriptive and evidence-based information on models that may help educators make decisions. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Dropout Rates in the United States: 2004 |
| URL: HTTP://NCES.ED.GOV/PUBSEARCH/PUBSINFO.ASP?PUBID=2007024 |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) |
| Abstract: This report builds on a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school drop-out and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates for 2004, and provides data about trends in drop-out and completion rates over the past three decades (1972-2004), including characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years. Among other findings, the report shows that students living in low-income families were approximately four times more likely to drop out of high school between 2003 and 2004 than were their peers from high-income families. Focusing on indicators of on-time graduation from public high schools, the average freshman graduation rate for the 3 most recent years for which data are available increased from 72.6% in 2001-02 to 73.9% in 2002-03 and to 74.3% in 2003-04. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: This is a descriptive study. "Data . . . are drawn from the annual October Current Population Surveys (CPS), the annual Common Core of Data (CCD) collections, and the annual GED Testing Service (GEDTS) statistical reports." |
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| Dropouts in America: Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis |
| Format: Print |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: Harvard Civil Rights Project |
| Abstract: This Civil Rights Project report reveals the scope of this hidden crisis, reviewing the most recent and accurate data on graduation and drop-out rates, exploring the reasons that young people drop out of school, and presenting the most promising models for helping high school students graduate with their peers. |
| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides a review of graduation and drop-out rate data and offers information on models for retaining students. |
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| Dropping Out of High School and the Place of Career and Technical Education: A Survival Analysis of Surviving High School |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.NCCTE.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/INFOSYNTHESIS/R&DREPORT/DROPP... |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE) |
| Abstract: Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 are used to examine the association between the CTE-to-academic-coursetaking ratio and the likelihood of dropping out. Descriptive statistics are presented for 1,628 individuals born in 1980. Transcript and survey data are also used. Results showed that enrollment in career and technical education is positively associated with higher graduation rates, but only when the technical courses are taken along with more challenging academic courses. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness are made. |
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| Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/DOCS/NHSCEIGHTELEMENTS7-25-08.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: The National High School Center’s goal is to encourage researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at all levels to engage in comprehensive, systemic efforts to maximize attainment for all high school students, with a focus on those students who have been historically underserved. To this end, we have developed a framework that consists of eight core elements and provides a lens for mapping school, district, and state high school improvement efforts. (July 2008) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Eight Elements of High School Improvement: Annotated Bibliography |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/DOCS/EIGHTELEMENTSANNOTATEDBIBLIOG... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: An annotated bibliography of resources that support the National High School Center's Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework. The eight elements are rigorous curriculum and instruction, assessment and accountability, teacher quality and professional development, resources for sustainability, leadership and governance, structure and organization, student and family support, and stakeholder engagement. Resources include both quantitative and qualitative research studies, meta-analyses, syntheses, tools, and products. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Evaluating the Impact of Interventions That Promote Successful Transitions from High School |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG/DOCS/RESEARCHBRIEF_IMPACTOFINTERVE... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: 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. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this brief, but the information is based on the author's expert opinion and an overview of studies that used a variety of research methods to examine the impact of interventions on students' postsecondary experiences. |
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| Evaluation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's High School Grants Initiative: 2001-2005, Final Report |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.GATESFOUNDATION.ORG/LEARNING/PAGES/2006-HIGH-SCHOOL-GRAN... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Abstract: This is the final report in the evaluation of the Gates' grants. Findings are shared on progress made by participating high schools on promoting student success, making instruction rigorous and relevant, and partnering with districts to offer portfolios of high school options. Themes and recommendations are offered. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: The review of the early indicators supports cautious optimism about student outcomes in foundation-supported new schools. Outcomes in new schools' attendance and progression rates are particularly encouraging. |
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| Evaluation of the New Century High Schools Initiative, Report on the Third Year |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.POLICYSTUDIES.COM/STUDIES/SCHOOL/NEW%20CENTURY%20YEAR%20... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Policy Studies Associates, Inc. (PSA) |
| Abstract: The New Century Schools Initiative created 75 small high schools in New York City through a funding partnership that included the Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and Open Society Institute. In addition to being small, the schools were to emphasize other features, including a rigorous academic program, relationships, instructional leadership, and continuous assessment. The evaluation found that the majority of schools established safe, academically focused, and socially supportive environments, and contributed to students' academic achievement. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Student achievement was enhanced by attendance in NCHS schools. Students in the NCHS research sample on average accumulated credits at a rate consistent with on-time graduation, and they out-performed comparison-group students. |
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| Findings from the Early College High School Initiative: A Look at Best Practices and Lessons Learned Regarding a Dual Enrollment Program |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/NHSC_EARLYCOLLEGEHI... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This research brief on the Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI), a dual enrollment program developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, examines lessons learned and best practices gleaned from an evaluation specific to the ECHSI, “Early College High School Initiative 2003-2005 Evaluation Report.” These findings help inform those interested in developing or implementing dual enrollment programs as a strategy to accelerate learning and help bridge transitions after graduation. (March 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Hidden Benefits: The Impact of High School Graduation on Household Wealth |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.ALL4ED.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/HIDDENBENEFITS.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Alliance for Excellent Education |
| Abstract: The Alliance combined research from the University of Michigan with data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the impact on the nation's collective wealth if every head of household graduated from high school. A table is provided showing gains in wealth for each state. The gains in wealth vary across states, from $83.6 million in Wyoming to over $9.2 billion in California. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Citizens of the U.S. would have over $74 billion more in accumulated wealth if all heads of households had graduated from high school. |
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| High School Course-Taking Patterns for English Language Learners: A Case Study from California |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/HSCOURSE-TAKINGPATT... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This research brief examines the course-taking patterns of ELLs by using the transcript data from 54 high schools in California. Alarming findings from the brief state that approximately 8% of ELLs in the study sample who finished high school had taken the necessary set of required courses to be minimally eligible to attend the California State University system. (April 2009) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| High Schools That Work (HSTW) |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.SREB.ORG/PROGRAMS/HSTW/PUBLICATIONS/2005PUBS/05V07_ENHAN... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) |
| Abstract: One aspect of HSTW is "Getting unprepared students ready for high school" by providing (1) "gear-up programs" for middle school students; (2) summer "bridge" programs in reading and mathematics with real-world field experiences; and (3) unprepared ninth-grade students with expanded time to learn English and algebra, special courses in study skills and computers, college prep science and social studies courses, and exposure to career options and planning. In addition, HSTW advocates reducing the student/teacher ratio to its lowest in high school, and having a master teacher lead the ninth-grade team, with the same students and common planning time. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: This report does not include the research methodology, but does make claims that students who complete the HSTW-recommended academic core have higher mean reading, math, and science achievement scores. Referenced on the Web site are two external evaluations that compare yearly achievement and survey data and conclude that academic achievement has improved. |
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| Implementation Studies of Small Learning Communities: Final Report |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.ED.GOV/RSCHSTAT/EVAL/OTHER/SMALL-COMMUNITIES/FINAL-REPOR... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: U.S. Department of Education |
| Abstract: This report shares findings of the implementation study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education of its Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) program, which provided federal funds to local education agencies to implement SLCs in high schools of 1,000 students or more. The report shares findings on the first cohort of grantee schools funded under this program in 2000. Among the findings: the most prevalent SLC structures were freshman and career academies, and the majority of schools had a "moderate" level of implementation. Early changes in schoolwide reported outcomes (e.g., school-related student behaviors) and academic outcomes were modest or neutral, with considerable variation among schools. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Claims of effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this report, but the information is based on annual performance reports completed by all grantees in the Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) program, the Periodic Implementation Survey (PIS), and in-depth case studies of 18 schools. |
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| Making Progress Toward Graduation: Evidence from the Talent Development High School Model |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.MDRC.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/408/OVERVIEW.HTML |
| Format: Print, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: MDRC |
| Abstract: A 5-year study of the Talent Development reform model at low-performing Philadelphia high schools showed that it increased attendance, increased the number of earned academic course credits, raised 10th-grade promotion rates, increased algebra pass rates, and had positive effects on 11th-grade math scores and graduation rates. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: The analysis combined the use of interrupted time series analytic strategy with a comparison schools analytic strategy. The deviations of outcomes from the baselines for the treatment and non-treatment groups demonstrated that Talent Development produced substantial gains in attendance, course credits earned, and promotion rates during the first year of high school, which is consistent with the intensive initial focus on ninth grade. These improvements were sustained as students moved through high school. |
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| Report on Key Practices and Policies of Consistently Higher Performing High Schools |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/REPORTOFKEYPRACTICE... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This National High School Center report focuses on successful high schools, highlighting the ways in which many superintendents, principals, and teachers are setting and meeting high expectations for all students. Developed specifically for state leaders, it provides them with suggestions on how they may support initiatives that are linked with accelerated learning. (October 2006) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Striving for Student Success: The Effect of Project GRAD on High School Student Outcomes in Three Urban School Districts |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.MDRC.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/433/FULL.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: School/District improvement |
| Provider: MDRC |
| Abstract: Project GRAD focuses on improving elementary and middle schools so that students enter high school better prepared to succeed. The components include mathematics, literacy, classroom management, and social service/parental involvement. An evaluation found inconsistent effects on academic success among ninth and tenth graders and no effects on the percentage of ninth graders who graduated from the three longest operating Project GRAD high schools studied. The failure of the project provided evidence of the need for high school reforms that focus on ninth-grade success. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: An "interrupted time series" (ITS) approach with comparison groups evaluation found only inconsistent effects on academic success among ninth and tenth graders--and no effects on the percentage of ninth graders who graduated--from the three longest operating Project GRAD high schools studied, and hence, provided evidence for the need for high school reforms that focused on ninth-grade success. |
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| Sustaining Focus on Secondary School Reading: Lessons and Recommendations from the Alabama Reading Initiative |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/NHSC_ARI_RESEARCHBR... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) addresses literacy and includes a focus on high school students. This research brief summarizes student and teacher outcomes, lessons learned, and other findings from a recent evaluation of the Alabama Reading Initiative at the secondary school level. (September 2006) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| What Matters for Staying On-Track and Graduating in Chicago Public Schools: A Focus on Students with Disabilities |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/USERGD_ONTRACT.ASP |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: Freshman year course performance—more than background characteristics such as race, gender, socioeconomic status or prior achievement—predict which students with disabilities are most at risk for dropping out of high school, according to a new report from the National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research and the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. The report found that absences, course failures, course credits and GPA all can be used to accurately predict whether ninth-graders with disabilities will graduate from high school. Identifying these early warning indicators is especially crucial for students with disabilities, who drop out of high school at alarming rates. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.AVIDONLINE.ORG/ |
| Format: URL |
| Focus Area: Post-secondary |
| Provider: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) |
| Abstract: AVID was first developed at a San Diego high school and now operates under a nonprofit organization in more than 2,700 schools nationally and internationally. The AVID program helps underachieving disadvantaged and minority students succeed in high school and prepare for college. Selected students are enrolled in a special AVID class every year after they begin the program and are placed in advanced classes. It features academic and critical thinking skills development, and provides other support and motivational experiences. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information about program. |
| How to read this information > |
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| America's Choice High School: High School Curriculum and Instruction, Aligned Instructional Systems, Safety Nets |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.NCEE.ORG/ACSD/PROGRAM/HIGH/CURRICULUM.JSP |
| Format: URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) |
| Abstract: America's Choice offers both middle and high school whole-school reform programs. Components of the high school model that target the needs of ninth-grade students include double-period, "ramp-up" courses in math and English language arts to help bring students up to grade level; tutoring and additional instructional days and summer school; and "class teachers" who follow the same group of students through ninth and tenth grade. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information only about safety nets. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Approaches to Dropout Prevention: Heeding Early Warning Signs with Appropriate Interventions |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG/DOCS/NHSC_APPROACHESTODROPOUTPREVE... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This report outlines steps that schools can take to identify at-risk students and provide the necessary support systems and relevant interventions to assist students in obtaining a high school diploma. The report discusses the use of early warning data systems to target interventions for groups and individual students, offers a variety of best-practice approaches undertaken by higher-performing high schools, and presents effective programs that are currently being implemented to stem the dropout problem. |
| read more > |
| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this report but the information is based on data gathered by the National High School Center. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Dropout Prevention for Students With Disabilities: A Critical Issue for State Education Agencies |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG/DOCS/NHSC_DROPOUTPREVENTION_052507... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This issue brief provides guidance to states as they respond to requirements presented in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) in the area of dropout prevention for students with disabilities. It also highlights the role of State Performance Plans as starting points for states to develop data collection and monitoring procedures, and supplies states with considerations and recommendations for providing a consistent method of tracking dropout data. (May 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Educating English Language Learners at the High School Level: A Coherent Approach to District- and School-Level Support |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/EDUCATINGELLSATTHEH... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This practitioner issue brief outlines successful strategies and recommendations for state-level policymakers, administrators, schools, and districts that are based on a 5-year evaluation study on the learning environment for ELLs in the state of California. This brief offers four critical building blocks that should be in place to effectively educate ELLs: implementing a well-defined, rigorously structured plan of instruction; ensuring that teachers are skilled in addressing the needs of ELLs; systematically using data to assess teaching and learning; and regularly adjusting instructional planning on the basis of student performance. (April 2009) |
| Rating: |
| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
| How to read this information > |
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| Meeting the Needs of Significantly Struggling Learners in High School: A Look at Approaches to Tiered Intervention |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/DOCS/NHSC_RTIBRIEF_08-02-07.PDF |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: Curriculum and Instruction, Achievement gap, High school, Special Education |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This report, authored by Helen Duffy of the National High School Center at the American Institutes for Research, provides an in-depth look at the implementation and structural issues, as well as the needed support required to successfully institute Response to Intervention (RTI) at the secondary school level. It defines the RTI models, explores benefits and challenges faced at the high school level, shares a snapshot of implementation at the high school level, and outlines the necessary resources needed to support this work. (August 2007) |
| Rating: |
| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| New Hampshire's Multi-Tiered Approach to Dropout Prevention |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/SNAPSHOT_DROPOUTPRE... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: Many states and districts across the country struggle with designing and implementing coherent dropout prevention initiatives that promote academic advancement, especially for special needs students, who drop out at much higher rates than the general student population. New Hampshire has been recognized for its innovative use of data collection and analysis as the key to unlocking the dropout problem. (March 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Preparing High School Students for Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Employment |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG/DOCS/PREPARINGHSSTUDENTSFORTRANSIT... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This brief highlights lessons from selected policies and programs designed to improve students' preparation for postsecondary pathways. The publication summarizes core characteristics of popular interventions in a user-friendly chart, poses overarching implementation questions and challenges, and includes considerations for students with disabilities. The brief notes that a number of promising approaches are available to improve transitions out of high school, but cautions that effective implementation is key. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this brief, but the information is based on a review of lessons from studies of selected policies and programs designed to improve students' preparation for postsecondary pathways and the author's expert opinion. |
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| Reinventing 9th Grade--Academics Through Personalization |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.DAGGETT.COM/REINVENT_9TH_GRADE.SHTML |
| Format: URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: International Center for Leadership in Education |
| Abstract: Reinventing 9th Grade--Academics Through Personalization is a guidebook for high school leaders who are ready to make a significant commitment of resources to the academic success of all ninth graders. It discusses the rationale for reform, the need for ninth-grade success, and the issues that must be addressed to create a successful ninth grade. A resource kit includes professional development strategies, program marketing suggestions, five case studies, a CD-ROM with forms and handouts, and a DVD presentation. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information about this program. |
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| State Approaches to More Reliable and Uniform Dropout and Graduation Data |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/DOCS/NHSC_GRADRATESVSDROPOUTRATES_... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This issue brief outlines the immediate need for more accurate dropout and graduation data, while providing a snapshot of work currently underway. By drawing on two prominent methods for calculating graduation rates: the National Governors Association’s endorsed longitudinal approach and the Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR), this brief outlines how data are needed to track dropout trends and patterns, as well as how to direct resources and more effective strategies to ensure more students receive a high school diploma. This brief concludes by offering take-aways for states. (August 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| State-Level High School Improvement Systems Checklist |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/STATELEVELHSIMPROVS... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: This checklist is designed to help states at various stages develop their system of support to reach struggling high schools. The checklist can be used to assess where your state is in terms of the elements of using existing support and guidance mechanisms, and reconfiguring and/or creating new structures to leverage system change for high school improvement. The elements listed in the checklist may be helpful in establishing or refining your state’s education planning and implementation process. (June 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this tool. |
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| States' Progress Toward High School Restructuring |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.COM/PUBS/DOCUMENTS/NHSC_RESTRUCTURING_... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: As many Title I high schools approach their fifth year of failing to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP), many states and districts are struggling to navigate the new waters of school restructuring as required in such cases as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. The following brief outlines the provisions of the law related to restructuring and includes strategies that states and districts are undertaking to meet their obligations under the law, particularly at the high school level. (January 2007) |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information but the findings are based on years of experience and the authors' expert opinion. |
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| Striking the Balance: Career Academies Combine Academic Rigor and Workplace Relevance |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.BETTERHIGHSCHOOLS.ORG/DOCS/MDRC_CAREERACADEMIESSNAPSHOT_... |
| Format: PDF, URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: National High School Center |
| Abstract: A snapshot look at the implementation of the Career Academy model--an innovative approach to infuse life relevancy and critical thinking skills into the academic curriculum--in a high school in Oakland, California. Painting a picture of one high school's experience, the resource documents the mechanics of the program, how it prepares students for college, and the challenges encountered along the way. |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: No claims of effectiveness pertain to this information, but the information is based on the author's expert opinion. |
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| Talent Development High Schools Model |
| URL: HTTP://WWW.CSOS.JHU.EDU/TDHS/ABOUT/MODEL.HTM |
| Format: URL |
| Focus Area: High school |
| Provider: Center for Social Organization of Schools (CSOS) |
| Abstract: The Talent Development High School Model is a comprehensive reform model for large high schools facing serious problems with student attendance, discipline, achievement scores, and dropout rates. Aspects of the model that focus specifically on ninth graders include small learning communities, ninth grade academy, Twilight School, and special courses for ninth graders such as strategic reading, literacy lab, transition to advanced mathematics, and freshman seminar (Grade 9). |
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| Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information about program. |
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