Other Report

This paper examines how four Georgia career academies compare with a Central Education Center (CEC) exemplar in Georgia. This study focuses on three elements of the CEC model; courses and curricula development based on need, stakeholder engagement, and seamless integration of career and technical education with academics and alignment between secondary and postsecondary education. Internet searches and key informant interviews from each site were conducted to assess the results.

This report provides a detailed overview of early college programs in the United States, and makes a compelling case for the expansion of such programs as a means for increasing graduation rates and postsecondary attainment, especially for students at risk. The authors review key features of early colleges and their relative impact over and above traditional high schools and on college readiness and success. The authors also outline Jobs for the Future's plans to expand the early college network by establishing partnerships with other nonprofits as well as districts, states, and the U.S.

This report describes how Project Exploration, a STEM pipeline alternative, has identified a disproportionate exit of minority and female students from STEM programs. The authors used a mix of quantitative and qualitative data to assess efficacy of Project Exploration's efforts to engage minority and female students who traditionally are under-represented in the STEM pipeline. Based on the success of their alternative approach, the authors propose an alternative model of a STEM pipeline that is based on a matrix of progressive competencies.

This report describes findings from ACT's 2013 College Readiness Assessment, with a special focus on student interest in STEM. The data displays the results by STEM subject, demographic, and college readiness score. A summary of key findings and details of the test are briefly discussed, and extra resources for further investigation of the topic are provided.

The state of California is considering extending bachelor degree pathways to, and across, community colleges. A study group of constituents across the system of California universities has been assembled to determine the pros and cons of this debated model. This report outlines the agenda of the study group, including the research consulted, topics covered, and summary of recommendations to the Chancellor’s Office and the Board of Governors. 

This report describes the impact that various reform models - such as guided pathways, stackable credentials, and competency-based credentials - have on students' postsecondary outcomes as well as examples of how some states have been implementing these reform models. The report also discusses how technology and human systems in higher education inhibit transformative change while also presenting alternatives and solutions for addressing these barriers to change. Finally, the author presents policy recommendations that could accelerate the acceptance of the various reform models.

This report presents the main findings from the Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC). PIACC was developed by OECD to measure proficiency in several skills, such as literacy, numeracy, and problem solving.

This report explores the results from OECD's international Survey of Adult Skills and focuses primarily on performance in the United States. The Survey of Adult Skills is an international survey that measures the basic skills, such as numeracy and literacy, of adults and compares the results to social and economic outcomes. According to the survey results, more adults have low literacy and numeracy skills in the U.S. compared to adults in other countries. This report provides recommendations for how the U.S. can take action to improve the basic skills of adults.

This report describes the findings of a survey regarding online post-secondary programs at public institutions. The survey participants consisted of the chief academic officers of public universities who are members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The survey was conducted by AASCU, in collaboration with The Learning House. The report provides a detailed analysis of the infrastructure, finances, marketing, programs offered, impact, and future directions for online programs at public post-secondary institutions.

This report details and expands upon the key recommendations from the 2010 Innovate to Educate Symposium, held by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) in collaboration with ASCD and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The ten recommendations consist of five "essential elements" for personalized learning, as well as five "policy enablers" which would serve to support the development of those essential elements.