Every month, when unemployment rate data are released, the news for African Americans is bleak. No matter what the overall unemployment rate is (5.6 percent in June), the Black unemployment rate is higher. Indeed, it is usually at least twice the White rate. In June 2004, for example, the White unemployment rate was 5 percent, but the Black…

This paper describes efforts by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the State Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to implement a state-mandated information literacy graduation requirement. Starting in 1996, there were comprehensive studies and state-wide hearings, leading up to an expected implementation…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) "Raising the Grade": Alliance President's New Book on High School Reform is Now Available; (2) Spellings…

Changing state revenues have prompted heightened concern about the immediate short- and long-term future and stability of state investments in higher education. The 2007 Survey of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges (NCSDCC) is the third administration of questions to determine questions of access, funding and overall…

Reports consistently demonstrate that the attainment of a high school diploma is not simply of value to the individual student, but that the benefit of a high school diploma is reaped by the graduate's community as well. Most educators readily acknowledge the importance of dropout prevention and the significance of a high school diploma. A…

This paper assesses the effectiveness of the "Closing the Gaps Higher Education Plan" approved and implemented by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2000 to improve the quality of higher education and address educational gaps prevalent among the state's diverse populations. The plan targets the four areas for improvement:…

To improve student completion rates in higher education, faculty are using cohort educational models (CEM); however, very few studies were found regarding CEMs effects in educating culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) doctoral students in the field of special education. This study investigated two questions: (a) Are there differences for…

Based on a longitudinal study of entering freshmen at a selective, private college in northeastern USA, this article provides a model for designing retention studies for assessment. Results from discriminant analysis revealed average high school grade, admission rating, and first semester average college grade as significant predictors of…

A capstone electronic portfolio, usually focused on summative assessment, was altered for preservice social studies teachers to include video-based formative e-portfolio assessment. Using a case-study design with three participants, we found that use of video artifacts facilitated reflection, supported inquiry into classroom success and failure,…

It is well documented that individuals with higher levels of education tend to be more civically engaged. In a two-part study conducted for the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the authors provided empirical evidence using 1988-2000 panel data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988…

The U.S. record in promoting student readiness for, access to, and success in postsecondary education has been mixed. College participation rates are among the highest in the world, but other indicators are marginal, at best. Available data indicate that levels of college readiness in the U.S. are not what they should be, and degree-completion…

Some of the questions most frequently asked of the North Dakota University System relate to the status of graduates and program completers of state educational institutions. Follow-up Information on North Dakota Education and Training (FINDET) is a consortium of several state agencies formed to provide answers to those questions. This report,…

The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) has conducted four studies of state graduation requirements for students with disabilities. This document synthesizes findings reported in NCEO's most recent 2007 study, "Revisiting Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options for Youth with Disabilities: A National Study," and the…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of analyzing and summarizing Indicator 1--Graduation--from the 2005-06 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and amended State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted by states to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in February of…

This paper assesses the effectiveness of financial aid in promoting the persistence of black and Hispanic students admitted to the most selective colleges and universities in the United States to complete their college education. To explore whether more dollars of aid enhance graduation, the analysis separates two constructs--aid eligibility and…