In recognition of the importance of education attainment to individual economic mobility and state workforce development needs, state leaders are advancing policies to support access to pathways into postsecondary education, training and the workforce. Although college and career readiness has long been a priority for policymakers, a growing…

During the 2016 session, the General Assembly and Governor established the New Economy Workforce Grant Program (WCG). This grant program, the first of its kind in the nation, provides a pay-for-performance model for funding noncredit workforce training that leads to a credential in a high-demand field. The program also includes requirements for…

Counselor educators (CEs) hold legitimate power over counselor education students (CESs). It would be helpful for CEs to understand how power differentials influence boundary-crossing perceptions within the legitimate hierarchy of counselor education. CEs and CESs were separately shown the same 16 boundary-crossing scenarios that could occur…

edTPA is designed to strengthen teacher professionalization and provide a framework for program redesign. However, using a national assessment to shift the content of local programs is challenging because of their inherent organizational complexity. In this article, we focus on this complexity, using a systems lens to analyze edTPA implementation…

Researchers and policymakers alike recognize the lasting benefits of participation in high-quality arts coursework and in integrating arts into other content areas. Federal policymakers signaled their support for arts education by passing the Every Student Succeeds Act, with its inclusion of the arts as part of a "wellrounded education."…

HB5 of 2013 eliminated many end of course exams and lowered the course-taking requirements for many high school students. What were the main consequences? College readiness as measured by high school exams dropped precipitously. However high-school course-taking patterns were largely unchanged. The goal of the research project presented in this…

When San Francisco implemented a new policy to improve graduation rates and college enrollment, district officials realized their work was only beginning. San Francisco Unified School District revamped its college-ready graduation policy in 2009, hoping to increase the likelihood that students would graduate with the necessary courses to go to a…

Beginning with the class of 2023, graduating Pennsylvania high school students will need to demonstrate career or postsecondary preparedness in addition to meeting existing statewide graduation requirements. Act 158 of 2018 outlines five pathways to meeting this requirement, including two that rely exclusively on Keystone Exam performance and…

In 37 states, an accepted computer science course may qualify or "flex" as a high school graduation requirement in lieu of a traditional requirement, such as mathematics. Applying a first- and second-order barriers framework (i.e., tangible impediments and personal beliefs), we examined views of 60 high school administrators. The…

Assessment and accountability are hotly debated topics in the field of education. Finding ways to include students with significant cognitive disabilities, a requirement under federal law, remains a challenge. In Massachusetts, students with significant cognitive disabilities participate in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System's…

Nearly all states require students to complete a certain number of units per course to earn a standard diploma in the state; but courses, units and assessments outside of exit exams and diploma options vary. This interactive resource provides an overview of state high school graduation requirements. To see how all states approach specific…

Education majors disproportionately represent students earning Latin Honors and are reported to receive higher GPAs (grade point averages) at graduation than most other majors. Examining longitudinal data from one Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education school we compare the performance of education majors to other majors in specific…

The purpose of this study was to understand how high schools in Texas were implementing the new graduation requirements that were enacted under House Bill 5 during the 2013 Texas Legislature. The study included interviews and survey data collected from 50 randomly selected public high schools in Texas during the 2018-19 school year. The study team…

The Algebra II Variable explores state-level mathematics policies on Algebra II, with specific examinations of graduation requirements and assessment policies and alignment to postsecondary expectations. This brief explores inconsistencies that exist both within and across states and reflects on the role and purpose of Algebra II as the Launch…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children in Texas and across the United States. The theme of this issue is "Institutional Grit." Articles include: (1) The Link between…