Students who start in two-year colleges are less likely to finish college than students who start in four-year colleges. However, other variables, such as religious background, educational aspirations, academic performance in college, participation in a work-study program, and living on campus, exert substantial positive effects on finishing.…

Gordon discusses the increasing role of state legislatures in addressing issues and passing laws regarding curriculum, testing, graduation requirements, and other areas with an impact on colleges and universities. Discusses the background and effects of the Gordon Rule in Florida, which establishes humanities, writing, and mathematics requirements…

The development of a universitywide general education requirement for undergraduates at the University of California at Davis is outlined, and the lessons learned in the process are discussed. (MSE)

The use of colors in tassels and hood trimmings to signify the subject areas of degrees is discussed, and variations in this practice are described. Whether the color of the hood trimming should indicate the major subject studied or the subject area incorporated in the title of the degree is debated. (MLW)

The Florida Court decision reaffirms a state's right to impose a diploma sanction when competency tests are valid. Testing specialists now have a precedent for demonstrating curricular and instructional validity. Competency testing programs are a useful method for implementing instructional improvements. (DWH)

Examines state high school graduation requirements from the perspectives of academic effectiveness and educational equity. Predicts that minimum competency testing, which is now widespread, will gradually be replaced by further increases in academic credit requirements. (KH)

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education is responsible for statewide planning, coordination, and advocacy for higher learning in our state. In conjunction with these responsibilities, the Commission publishes an annual systemwide accountability report on higher education in New Jersey designed to identify priorities and inspire dialogue for…

One of the central themes in the standards-based education movement continues to be the importance of clear and detailed system accountability data showing how students from special needs groups perform on statewide accountability assessments (Albus, Thurlow & Liu, 2002; National Research Council, 1997; Thurlow & Liu, 2001). Armed with such data,…

This E.D. TAB presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Spring 2004 data collection, which included four survey components: Student Financial Aid for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2002-03 academic year, Enrollment for fall 2003, Graduation Rates for…

This report begins with an overview of conditions that affect Nevada education and key challenges created by those conditions. It then describes a number of state and local reform activities designed to address these challenges. Within this context, findings on student achievement and graduation rates are presented -- both for students overall …

This is the fourth biennial survey on the state of economic and personal finance education in the fifty states conducted by the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE). NCEE conducts these surveys to gauge how the state standards, their implementation, and state testing change from year to year. Since the last survey, published April 2003,…

This report presents the number and percentage of students dropping out of and completing public school for the 2000-2001 school year. Information came from the Common Core of Data (CCD) surveys, which provide basic data on public K-12 institutions, students, and staff. A total of 45 states reported dropouts using the CCD definition. The 9th-12th…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the institution of content standards-driven curriculum in secondary English language arts and mathematics has led to student success on the California High School Exit Exam. The study tested the hypothesis that the increased focus on the alignment of English language arts and…

High numbers of high school students are leaving New York City public schools without graduating. Some school officials are encouraging students to leave regular high school programs, despite their being of school age and have the right to receive appropriate literacy, support, and educational services through the public school system. This report…

Australian researchers examined why, despite government efforts to provide an environment where all people could access education, training, and work, there has been little change in school retention and completion rates in recent years. Three studies included "Young Persons' Education, Training and Employment Outcomes with Special Reference…