The primary purpose of this study was to identify potential sources of gender differential item bias (DIF) in a high school exit examination composed of both selected-response and constructed-response items in the content areas of English, social studies, mathematics, and biology. A secondary purpose was to determine the agreement between the…

This report includes state summaries of the annual dropout rate used in the accountability system, along with state attrition rates. It offers a series of longitudinal secondary school completion/student status rates. Out of 1,794,521 students attending Texas public secondary schools during 1999-00, 23,457 dropped out, a decrease of 15.0 percent.…

Four schools in the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) district now have appeared on the state's list of schools needing improvement for four years in a row. After four years on the list, schools are required under federal law to take corrective action, which could include restructuring the internal organization of the school, replacing staff,…

Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have given all the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states a new tool to help focus their colleges and universities on state needs. These three states have created plans for their higher education institutions by drawing on leadership from a broad range of state agencies. They identified state needs and…

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…

Are private schools superior to public schools? This report presents the numbers, analyzes the arguments, and concludes that the answer is "no." All things being equal, a good school is a good school, whether it is public or private. The report provides information about school demography, school characteristics, student achievement, teachers and…

This booklet provides parents and students with answers to their questions about ISTEP+ (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus), which measures tenth-grade student achievement in English/language arts and mathematics. After a letter from Suellen Reed, Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, the booklet discusses what…

This paper explores the impact of emerging information technology on employment opportunities for non-college-educated and minority individuals during 1986-99, examining whether shifts in employment toward information technology related to upward shifts in skills that led to reduced entry-level and total employment opportunities for…

This document presents results for students in the Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS), North Carolina, on the North Carolina Tests of Computer Skills. In 1991, North Carolina established a computer proficiency requirement for graduation, which is now effective for the class of 2001. Beginning in 1967, eighth graders were to have at least one…

This monograph offers new ways of looking at long-term trends in four-year college charges to undergraduates, the ability of students and families to pay them, and trends in college prices in relation to the earnings outcomes of college attendance. After an introduction, the monograph focuses on: "Trends in College Prices and Family…

This study examined the progress toward school completion of students who entered ninth grade in fall 1998 and were scheduled to graduate on time in spring 2002 after 4 years of high school, offering outcomes for the class as a whole and for specific groups of students categorized by gender, native language, race/ethnicity, and immigrant status.…

This bulletin answers questions concerning grading, graduation requirements, and awarding of diplomas to students with disabilities in Montana. Presented in a question-and-answer format, the guide is based upon letters from the Office of Special Education Programs and Office for Civil Rights concerning the interpretation of federal statutes.…

This paper discusses the development of the Basic Skills Model, a theoretical framework that has enabled North Carolina educators to propose to the Department of Public Instruction the development of a curriculum for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. The curriculum is designed to enable students to gain the necessary skills to…

This book focuses on three court rulings affecting mandatory high-school community service. It examines the rationale, functioning, and outcomes of high-school community-service programs and addresses the significant legal aspects of community service. It also analyzes court opinions and related legislation on community service and points out some…

This document contains statistical information for the following performance targets for school years 2002-03 and 2003-04 in the state of Hawaii: (1) reading; (2) mathematics; (3) graduation; and (4) retention. The federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) law requires the state to report this information. The state performance of these groups are…