PK-8

The Early Warning Indicator Index: Identifying High School Students At Risk of Not Graduating on Time

This guide from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education discusses how to identify students at risk of not graduating on time or at risk of dropping out of school using Massachusetts’ Early Warning Indicator Index (EWII). The guide examines the effects of using the EWII to detect those at risk students and provides guidance on common characteristics of at risk students, how risk level is determined, and how to assign risk levels to new students.

Advancement Via Individual Determination: Method Selection in Conclusions About Program Effectiveness

This evaluation of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) showed statistically significant differences between AVID and comparison students on measures of enrollment in eighth grade algebra, language arts grades, school absences, and college attendance, favoring AVID students.

Ready to Go: Using the EXPLORE Test to Increase 8th Grade Readiness for Success

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.

Effects of a College Access Program for Youth Underrepresented in Higher Education: A Randomized Experiment

This study evaluates the EXCEL program, a college access program, which promotes underrepresented youth attending a higher education institution by guaranteeing a scholarship to a sponsoring university and providing various enrichment activities. Eighty-three eighth grade students with a GPA of B and above and standardized test scores at grade level or above were randomly assigned to attend EXCEL or to a control group. Results revealed that students involved in the program were not significantly more likely to attend college than students in the control group.

Common Core State Standards: Progress and Challenges in School Districts’ Implementation

This paper from the Center on Educational Policy reports on a national survey in early 2011 of school districts’ perceptions of the impact of the common core state standards (CCSS), district progress in implementing the standards, and any challenges they have experienced in doing so. The report discusses the results of the survey based on state and district responses. The questions posed covered a range of topics, including district budgets, federal stimulus money, education reform, and the CCSS.

A Critical Mission: Making Adolescent Reading an Immediate Priority in SREB States

This policy report from the Southern Region Education Board discusses the importance of increasing students’ adolescent literacy skills. The committee that authored the report provides a set of recommendations for middle and high schools that will help achieve this goal, and in turn, help students achieve higher success in other areas as well.

Engaging Older Youth: Program and City-level Strategies to Support Sustained Participation in Out-of-school Time

This study by the Harvard Family Research Project and Public/Private Ventures explored strategies of out-of-school programs for middle and high school students which were associated with retention of youth (i.e., duration of participation). Results were based on data from 198 program surveys, 28 program interviews, and 47 city-level respondents. The study authors identified five program characteristics (two program practices and three structural features) associated with high retention.

New Hampshire’s Multi-tiered Approach to Dropout Prevention

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. This snapshot from the National High School Center recognizes New Hampshire for its innovative use of data collection and analysis as the key to unlocking the dropout problem.

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