Other Report

This report from MDRC examines New York City’s small schools of choice (SSC) program and presents findings from that study that show that in roughly six years, a large system of small public high schools were created and helped improve graduation prospects for many disadvantaged students. The study found that by the end of their first year of high school, 58.5 percent of SSC enrollees were on track to graduate high school in four years compared with 48.5 percent of their non-SSC counterparts.

This report, produced by the Center for American Progress, examines teacher evaluation practices in five charter schools affiliated with three well-established charter management organizations. It notes that overall, charters seem to have more teacher evaluation practices within them and teacher evaluation appears to influence teachers’ instructional capabilities in a positive way.

This report from Civic Enterprises shares the results of focus group discussions with parents, teachers and students, and their views of the high school dropout dilemma. The authors note that each group had varying views on the causes of increased dropout and what could help improve the situation, and provide recommendations to address the perceived issues that contribute to dropping out.

This report, produced by the Center for American Progress, focuses on the challenges in dismissing chronically ineffective teachers, those who are persistently ineffective and don’t improve with additional professional development or other types of supports. The report recommends that new types of comprehensive evaluation systems need to be put in place to provide support and feedback to teachers, and laws and policies must alter to allow for the removal of ineffective teachers in order to increase academic achievement for all students.

This paper from the Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles uses 2005 National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data to look at the dropout crisis among American Indian and Alaska Native students. The authors discuss implications of the findings for policy and practice and provide recommendations for future research including questions to consider to better understand the issue. They also call for the adoption and implementation of uniform reporting and data collection methods especially for this population.

This piece, produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), discusses efforts to improve child and adolescent health and educational outcomes by enhancing protective factors in their lives that reduce the effects of stressful events, increase one’s ability to avoid risks, and promote social and emotional competence. One of the most promising protective factors is school connectedness, or the idea that that students believe that adults and peers care about their lives and their learning.

This report from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices addresses the alarming high school dropout rate in the United States and identifies the root causes of the high school dropout crisis. The report provides a comprehensive action plan for states to keep students in school, reengage dropouts, and help youth succeed and strengthen state economies.

Based on interviews with principals implementing the High Schools That Work school improvement model, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) identifies seven key strategies present in districts that effectively support school reform.

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 report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) identifies and reviews selected K-12 postsecondary education college access programs. Information on how the program works and under conditions and limitations on the research are discussed, and characteristics of effective programs based on the research is provided.