This report discusses measurement issues and their usefulness as indicators of student success at the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario. The following sections are included: (1) executive summary; (2) introduction; (3) retention rates, which discusses a number of issues associated with defining and measuring graduation rates; (4)…

This review investigated the state accountability Workbooks provisionally approved and publicly reported by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) as of June 2003. These documents were obtained from the DOE Web site. This report examines state definitions of high school graduation rates and strategies for constructing graduation rate indicators. A…

The first section of this report describes the context in which America's children live, such as changes in children's family settings and living arrangements. The report indicates that although the majority of children live with two married parents, 32 percent do not. In 2003, 23 percent of children lived with only their mothers, 5 percent lived…

This document is a quick look at general information about Alabama schools. The document contains 11 sections: (1) state statistics; (2) Alabama public schools; (3) Alabama board of education members; (4) financial data; (5) school size and enrollment; (6) transportation and school meals; (7) graduation requirements; (8) additional enrollment;…

Does student aid increase college attendance or simply subsidize costs for infra-marginal students? Settling the question empirically is a challenge, because aid is correlated with many characteristics that influence educational investment decisions. A shift in financial aid policy that affects some youth but not others can provide an identifying…

This description of a computerized graduation verification system developed and implemented at the University of South Carolina at Columbia discusses the "table-driven" feature of the programs and details the implementation of the system, including examples of the Extended Backus Naur Form (EBNF) notation used to represent the system…

A variety of strategies for surviving in professional and personal worlds are described. The recommendation is to be aware of self and others as well as dynamics of interpersonal situations. Valuing oneself and reasonably evaluating and modifying professional and personal behavior helps ensure productivity and success. (Author)

This study explored predictors of graduating from versus dropping out of high school for 664 youths with severe emotional disturbances. Results indicate that almost 50% of the sample dropped out of high school. Participation in school-based counseling and vocational education was significantly associated with high school graduation. (Author/CR)

Maryland is the first state to require every student to perform service as a condition of receiving a high school diploma. In Baltimore, once electives became mandatory, a new coordinator for service learning was appointed, a service-learning program--the Baltimore Alliance for Student Service--was established, and a revised five-year…

Examines the paradox of strong individual demand and strong institutional support for the General Educational Development (GED) credential despite educational and economic returns markedly lower than those of traditional high school graduates, suggesting that the GED program is a low-cost way to integrate thousands of off-track individuals back…

Describes the pitfalls that schools may encounter in requiring community service for high school graduation. In planning service-learning programs, schools should ask "In service of what?" Schools should first define their ideological, political, and social goals; provide teacher training, and incorporate the program into the curriculum. (LMI)

Shows that in the German educational system, boys are at a disadvantage with girls. Explains that boys often leave secondary school without a final degree. Concludes that the smaller the proportion of male elementary teachers and the higher the rate of unemployment, the lower the achievement of boys in secondary schools. (CAJ)

Analyzes school enrollment and graduation rates in China using the 1990 Chinese Census. Finds that location of residence and sex are highly correlated with enrollment and graduation, with rural girls being especially disadvantaged in terms of both enrollment and graduation rates. Other factors such as parental education have consistent effects on…

Discussion of the effect of minimum competency tests for graduation notes both positive (such as greater access to the general curriculum) and negative (such as increased referrals to special education) to improve a school's overall scores. Continually changing special education procedures are seen, however, to have led to a decline in teachers…