Schools are implementing new and effective strategies in an effort to graduate 90 percent of students and to ensure that graduates are prepared to succeed in college, advanced training and work. This newsletter describes how schools have redesigned their schedules, organizational structures and cultures in an effort to graduate 90 percent of…

In 2005 and 2006, the "High Schools That Work" ("HSTW") program of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the College and Career Transitions Initiative of the League for Innovation in the Community College (League) facilitated a series of 15 state-level forums aimed at identifying ways to foster collaboration between secondary and…

High schools that enable educators to nurture the distinctive interests and talents of all groups of students can help more students stay in school and find the motivation to prepare for college and careers. By implementing six clear-cut ideas, or conditions, that evidence shows can lead more students to success, schools and communities can…

In a time of reduced funding, schools are meeting the challenge to continue improving classroom practices, student achievement and graduation rates. Many schools and teachers are forming networks to exchange information via the Internet as they tap into free electronic resources. Career/technical (CT) instructors are teaching students about…

The authors advocate harnessing the applied teaching strategies of career/technical education (CTE) and infusing them into college-preparatory academics to transform secondary schools into high-performing centers of learning where students are both challenged and engaged. By pursuing this strategy, say the authors, states can help many more…

Higher standards, motivation and extra help go hand-in-hand in preparing students for success in the middle grades, high school, further education and careers. This newsletter highlights best practices in more than 20 middle grades and high schools that are meeting the challenge of raising expectations for all students, motivating them and…

The "2011 Legislative Briefing" is a topical summary of state budget and legislative actions that affect elementary, secondary and higher education across the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) region. It outlines actions in areas such as tax and spending legislation, assistance to local districts, tuition and fees, student…

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, that works with 16 member states to improve pre-K-12 and higher education. SREB's many programs and initiatives share a single, powerful mission: to help the region lead the nation in educational progress. In the past year, SREB…

On August 1, 2006, Alabama state educational and policy leaders participated in the Alabama Education Forum to discuss ways to improve student transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum focused on five targeted outcomes: (1) decreased need for remediation at the postsecondary level; (2) increased enrollment and…

The primary objective of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) "High Schools That Work" ("HSTW") is to help schools improve so more students can reach their full potential. The "HSTW" Follow-up Study of 2004 Graduates is one measure that gauges how well schools have prepared their students for college and careers. Students' reflections on…

This research is part of a comprehensive effort to pinpoint the key leadership factors that improve student achievement and increase the number of high school graduates who are ready for college and careers. In this study, SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) examined the role of the district office in providing principals with the working…

While educational results have improved in many areas, a high percentage of North Carolina students are not graduating from high school, raising concerns about the state's ability to be economically competitive with other states and countries. All students need to attain the knowledge and skills necessary to be competitive and prosperous in the…

This report organizes information from the forum in terms of how Oklahoma fares in building students' transitions, what challenges it faces in improving transitions and what actions it can take to improve students' high school to college and career transitions. On February 17, 2006, 33 Oklahoma state educational and policy leaders participated in…