Issue/Policy Brief

This report is a compilation of four National High School Center products that had been previously released as individual pieces related to transitions into high school. Included in this publication are a fact sheet, policy brief, issue brief, and snapshot.

This fact sheet from the National High School Center provides facts and statistics about U.S. high schools and the students they serve through May 2006. This fact sheet portrays a picture of what high schools in the U.S. look like and how they have changed. The fact sheet can also be used as a reference for quick statistics about high schools and their students.

This fact sheet is an overview of the current state of high school literacy instruction and achievement as well as the importance of obtaining a high level of literacy prior to leaving high school.

This policy brief provides state-level examples of efforts to improve the assessment and reporting of data. This brief also showcases effective partnerships between state departments and the Regional Comprehensive Centers (RCCs) in strengthening educational outcomes for English language learners (ELLs) on the secondary school level.

This fact sheet provides statistics describing the current status of high school graduates' readiness for life after high school. It highlights some of the challenges and opportunities facing high school students after graduation as well as some of the consequences and implications for America’s under-prepared graduates.

This data brief from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) provides findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2). It presents a national overview of the planning process involved in helping students with disabilities make the transition from high school to life after high school. Results indicate that there is variability in the extent to which laws and best practices regarding the transition planning process are followed.

This brief by the National High School Center provides an in-depth look at the implementation and structural issues, as well as the needed support required to successfully institute Response to Intervention (RTI) at the secondary school level. It defines the RTI models, explores benefits and challenges faced at the high school level, shares a snapshot of implementation at the high school level, and outlines the necessary resources needed to support this work.

This article from the National Association of Secondary School Principal’s Principal Leadership journal describes response to intervention’s (RTI) tiered process for implementing evidence-based instructional strategies in the regular education setting while frequently measuring student progress to determine whether these practices are effective. It specifies some common components of strong collaborative teams and elements of effective RTI programs.

This fact sheet highlights the problem of dropout prevention facing America’s high schools today. It provides information on the students most likely to drop out, and examines the impact of dropouts on crime, the economy, personal incomes, and employment.

This policy brief released by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability at the Institute for Educational Leadership identifies five broad policy and practice areas critical to ensuring all students--and especially those with disabilities--are prepared to succeed in high school and in their post-secondary careers. The brief makes 14 recommendations spread across the five areas and provides suggestions on what organizations can support these recommendations.