Data-Driven Decision-Making

This paper summarizes an extensive range of education statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with specific attention on the topics of school finance, school environment, education levels and student numbers, transition from higher education to the workforce, and the economic and social benefits of education. In addition to providing the data, OECD integrates analyses that identify key education trends and linkages to other relevant OECD resources.

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How Are States Supporting Students Transitioning from High School to College?

Submitted by Brady Delander on Thu, 10/30/2014 - 11:58am

Education leaders across the nation are working hard to ensure their students successfully transition from high school into postsecondary education. With so many variables to consider, this is no small task. To assist with the process, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) has launched a Blueprint for College Readiness, which includes a 50-state online database to provide guidance and support to those leaders.

Building Pathways to Success for Low-Skill Adult Students: Lessons for Community College Policy and Practice from a Longitudinal Student Tracking Study

This report discusses the outcomes of a longitudinal study, conducted to investigate the profile of low-skill adults entering community or technical colleges in Washington State and to identify the points at which this demographic commonly drops out or fails to achieve. The study findings indicate that technical and community colleges should establish goals for low-skill adults to earn a credential and take a year’s worth of college-level courses to improve opportunities for achievement via college entry or career-path employment.

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En Route to Seamless Statewide Education Data Systems: Addressing Five Cross-Cutting Concerns

In this report, the State High Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) shares five processes that are key to the development of effective and sustainable state longitudinal data systems. These components were identified by a cohort of 11 state leadership teams and content experts collaborating to provide a framework for states in the early stages of creating longitudinal data systems.

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Upcoming College and Career Readiness and Success Events

Submitted by CCRS Center on Mon, 10/06/2014 - 11:52am

Looking for events that address college and career readiness and success issues? Learn more about some upcoming events below:

Maximizing Resources for Student Success by Reducing Time- and Credits-to-Graduate

This report from HCM Strategists provides strategies for regional public universities serving high concentrations of low-income and otherwise at-risk students to reduce the amount of time and credits necessary to graduate. This report highlights while that more students are seeking a four-year college degree, less than 40% of first-time college students graduate within four years. Taking additional time to graduate not only can add years to a "four-year" degree, but it also comes with additional costs in tuition, room, board, and other expenses.

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Laying Tracks to Graduation: The First Year of Implementing Diplomas Now

This report explores how Talent Development Secondary, City Year, and Community in Schools formed the Diplomas Now project to reduce the dropout rate in urban secondary schools and prepare students for college and careers. Diplomas Now is a data-driven, tiered intervention model funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) competition in addition to matching funds from private organizations. The program's model focuses on early warning indicators of on-time graduation, including attendance, behavior, and course performance.