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This paper reports preliminary findings from the evaluation of the New York State Education Department’s Model Transition Program grants to sixty local education agencies aimed to improve post-secondary outcomes for youth with disabilities. Data were collected for more than 16,000 participants. This part of the evaluation aimed to describe the types of services provided and characteristics of the program participants. Results indicated that most of the students targeted by the program were male and enrolled in 11th and 12th grades.

This report analyzes the effect of vocational education on high school students’ academic effort and graduation rates. International cross-section data showed that nations (e.g. graduation rates from upper secondary school in Europe, Australia and North America and the correlation with enrollment in career-tech programs) that enroll a large portion of high school students in vocational programs have higher attendance rates and high school completion rates.

This study assessed the relationship between high school students home environment and post-secondary aspirations. Data was obtained from the School Success Profile survey administered to middle and high school students. Analyses were limited to a sub-sample of more than 11,000 students from two states. All students in the sample were included based on their eligibility for free or reduced price lunch program. Parental support and parents' high behavioral and academic expectations were associated with greater aspirations.

An update to the 2005 report, An Action Agenda for Improving America's High Schools, this report examines state progress made in improving high schools to prepare students for college and career since 2005. Specifically, this report offers recommendations and best practices to help states restore the value of a high school diploma, redesign high schools to better prepare students for postsecondary success, improve teacher and principal quality, establish high standards and better accountability measures, and improve education governance.

This paper focuses on strategies for creating postsecondary pathways for high school dropouts in order to close the skills gap as well as connect the talents of these youth to postsecondary skills and credentials. The paper argues that in order to improve educational and economical outcomes for high school dropouts, there must be alignment of secondary, postsecondary, workforce, and adult education systems and several actions must be taken.

This guide presents superintendents with a framework for how graduation rates can be increased at the district level. An approach that has been successful in several districts, referred to as Multiple Pathways to Graduation, is also highlighted. Districts that were able to close the graduation gap did so by: reframing the dropout conversation, analyzing the local dynamics of the graduation crisis, re-designing school and district operations to increase responsiveness, and strategicallly managing a portfolio of schools.