MSP News: Improving Lower Performing Schools
June 24, 2010
HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE
1. NEW IN LIBRARY
A. "Improving Lower Performing Schools: Lessons from Five Years of Studying School Restructuring under No Child Left Behind," The Center for Education Policy (CEP), December 2009.
B. "Meeting the Challenge: Promising Practices for Reducing the Dropout Rate in Massachusetts Schools and Districts," Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, February 2009.
C. "Raise the Age, Lower the Dropout Rate? Considerations for Policymakers," Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, April 2009.
D. "Charting the Path from Engagement to Achievement: A Report on the 2009 High School Survey of Student Engagement," Indiana University Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP), June 2010.
2. NEW IN RESOURCES
Useful Website: High School Survey of Student Engagement
HSSE, the most comprehensive survey on student engagement and school climate issues, works with school staff members, leadership teams, and other youth-serving professionals to make effective use of the data and to strengthen student engagement in their learning environments.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT
Upcoming Conference: Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success, September 19-21, Asheville, NC
DETAILS BELOW
1. NEW IN LIBRARY
A. "Improving Lower Performing Schools: Lessons from Five Years of Studying School Restructuring under No Child Left Behind," The Center for Education Policy (CEP), December 2009.
This report synthesizes five years of CEP's research on state and local efforts to improve persistently low-performing schools in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act. CEP conducted this research in six states -- California, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New York, and Ohio -- and in 23 districts and 48 schools within those states. The report also makes recommendations for improving federal assistance in this area.
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Ed Change & Policy
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/20803
B. "Meeting the Challenge: Promising Practices for Reducing the Dropout Rate in Massachusetts Schools and Districts," Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, February 2009.
A brief from the Rennie Center identifies policies, programs and practices in schools that have steadily made progress in reducing their dropout rates over the past four school years. The report provides real-world examples of schools and districts where these policies and practices have taken hold and appear to be effective.
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Ed Change & Policy
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/20804
C. "Raise the Age, Lower the Dropout Rate? Considerations for Policymakers," Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, April 2009.
Through an examination of research and analysis of other states' policies, the Rennie Center examines the arguments for and against raising the compulsory age of school attendance to 18 and concludes that there is no credible empirical evidence to support this policy alone as an effective strategy to combat the dropout crisis. The Center argues that prior to considering a raise in the compulsory age of attendance, the Commonwealth should focus its energy and resources on developing policies and programs that research has shown to be successful in helping at-risk students stay in school and persist to earning a diploma.
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Ed Change & Policy
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/20805
D. "Charting the Path from Engagement to Achievement: A Report on the 2009 High School Survey of Student Engagement," Indiana University Center for Evaluation and Education Policy (CEEP), June 2010.
The most recent results from the annual High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE) closely resemble past findings, reflecting bored students who say they are not connected to their school. The survey asked more than 42,000 high school students about their thoughts, beliefs and perceptions in 2009. The 2009 survey covered 103 schools in 27 states. This report also profiles individual schools and districts that are using HSSSE data, showing how schools are using the survey to improve the effectiveness of instruction.
The numbers between 2006 and 2009 have consistently shown a troubling trend among high school students in the U.S.
"We could have the same headlines, 'Kids are bored, not connected to school,'" said Ethan Yazzie-Mintz, HSSSE project director. "We've got similar numbers in terms of kids who are bored every day -- about 49 percent of the kids are bored every day, 17 percent every class. That's two-thirds of the kids who are bored at least every day."
MSPnet Location: LIBRARY>>Teaching & Learning
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/20806
2. NEW IN RESOURCES
Useful Website: High School Survey of Student Engagement
The High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE, pronounced "hessie")
is the most comprehensive survey on student engagement and school climate issues available to schools today. HSSSE works closely with individual schools, districts, state departments of education, state and national organizations, and foundations to investigate deeply the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs that students have about their work, the school learning environment, and their interaction with the school community. HSSSE also works with school staff members, leadership teams, and other youth-serving professionals to make effective use of the data and to strengthen student engagement in their learning environments.
MSPnet Location: RESOURCES>>Useful Websites
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/20807
3. ANNOUNCEMENT
Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success
September 19-21, Asheville, NC
The national higher education agenda includes a strategic interest in recruiting and graduating transfer students. One area of concern is the success rate of transfer students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines.
This conference will bring together faculty, administrators, transfer student specialists, and representatives from national agencies and foundations to discuss programmatic and funding strategies.
This event will provide you crucial information about STEM transfer and funding trends as well as an opportunity to network with colleagues working with STEM transfer success.
July 2nd is the deadline to propose a session (poster or concurrent) for the Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success Conference.
MSPnet Location: EVENTS>>Calendar
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/calendar/show/event-5828