Accountability

This document states the need for statewide longitudinal data systems that can help facilitate sharing of student-level data across the education spectrum. The brief notes that doing this could help schools answer policy questions critical to increasing college and career readiness among students. Example questions include the number of high school graduates that have taken the required coursework to prepare for college, how many students are "on-track" for future success, etc.

This brief from Achieve identifies the key areas that state policymakers should consider in order to implement the new Common Core State Standards with fidelity. The brief provides suggestions for aligning these new standards with their existing standards and course requirements, as well as aligning assessments for collecting data and measuring achievement. The brief lists steps each state can take to ensure they are implementing the standards effectively.

This report provides a profile of 38 schools and details how these schools have implemented strategies to promote and advance college readiness. The report outlines each school, characteristics that make the school unique, and lessons learned from undertaking particular strategies. The report is organized into six sections: 1) alternative schools, 2) charter schools, 3) comprehensive schools, 4) early college high schools, 5) magnet schools, and 6) private schools. In several cases, schools may have utilized more than one strategy to achieve their goal.

This policy statement from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) provides reasons why the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) should be reauthorized. The authors include recommendations for ESEA reauthorization in the four core areas of reform: standards, assessments, and accountability; data and reporting; teachers and leaders; and supports for next-generation learning.

This study provides descriptive statistics about Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Tennessee high schools. The study used school-level data, including both regular and special education graduates in more than 300 schools. The report identified a discrepancy between the distribution of students across CTE education areas and the extent to which those areas correspond to high demand high wage occupations.

This report, sponsored by Digital Learning Now, identifies 72 measures that state policy makers should incorporate into their state policy in order to facilitate high quality digital learning for all students. The authors stress the importance of providing all students access to digital forms of learning, including virtual and blended learning, using digital learning to provide personalized learning trajectories, and providing quality content, instruction and choices through digital learning.

This research discussed the findings from the EXPLORE test which assesses students on English, math, reading and science and measures progress towards college and career readiness based on “College Readiness Standards.” 1,444 8th grade students from three districts in Ohio took this test, answered questions regarding career and post secondary plans were reviewed and data from pre and post surveys from parents, students and curriculum directors and teachers were administered.

This policy brief sponsored by the Data Quality Campaign discusses the states’ role in keeping student data private and used effectively and securely. The author explains the importance of state guidance on securing data and creating efficient systems of using data. It provides recommendations including establishing roles for data stewardship, ensuring policy documentation, transparency and enforcement, and supporting organizational capacity.