Curriculum

This report from the Coalition for Community Schools discusses how eight high schools across the country are decreasing dropout rates as community schools. The author examines how these schools have been increasing achievement and preparing students for careers, college and life through focused leadership, robust partnerships, and critical programs and services. Case studies on each of the schools are included, highlighting background, programs and services, partnerships, leadership, and results.

This issue brief, sponsored by the Alliance for Excellent Education, discusses using multiple pathways to prepare students for college and career. The author examines the effects of California’s multiple pathways programs on high school students, concluding that multiple pathways can increase high school graduation rates, engagement, achievement, and college and career readiness. The author also provides recommendations that include addressing federal laws, funding stream structures, and policies that inhibit multiple pathway programs.

This report, sponsored by the Consortium on Chicago School Research, discusses whether Chicago Public School students are participating in the college search and application process effectively and where they run into obstacles. The authors examine the effect of school culture and guidance systems on students participation in the college application process, particularly for minority students.

This is a paper and pencil version of the online self-assessment tool.

This best practices piece is based on key research into high school transition strategies. This piece concludes that transitions into high school can be eased when both structural and specialized curricula reforms are in place to support struggling students while also ensuring they are engaged in learning.

The Eight Elements of High School Improvement framework provides a lens for mapping school, district, and state high school improvement efforts. This framework, updated from the original July 2008 version, incorporates new language and ideas from the U.S. Department of Education’s current education reform priorities.

The researchers investigated the effects of participation in Career Academies on the labor market preparation, school-to-work transitions, and other long-term outcomes for young people. The findings suggest that academic learning need not be compromised by career education, and investments in career-preparatory activities for high school students can create significant improvements in long-term outcomes.

This compendium describes several secondary-post-secondary learning options (SPLOs) and highlights the research that assesses their effectiveness. SPLOs include dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), Tech Prep, Middle College High Schools (MCHS) , early college high schools (ECHS), programs serving disadvantaged youth, college access programs [such as International Baccalaureate (IB)], Career Academies, and summer enrichment programs.

This practice-based review from the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center provides a summary of research that examines the impact of transition planning/coordinating interventions on the transition and transition-related outcomes of high school aged students with disabilities. Results provide support for the use of student planning and student development interventions.