Full Description
A proven system to boost high school graduation ratesMore High School Graduates is a comprehensive guide for school leaders and government policymakers committed to boosting high school graduation rates. Drawing from his knowledge as an education official and professor, author Ben Levin presents a system to turn around secondary schools that is adaptable for local-, district-, and state-level decision making.Offering a road map for improvement, this bookAEs practical and specific recommendations have increased graduation rates across hundreds of high schools. Components includeKeeping track of all studentsAE progress and intervening early to prevent failureEstablishing curriculum and graduation requirements that support increased student successImproving teaching and learningConnecting with the community to engage families, local businesses, and other stakeholders in improving graduation ratesImplementing methods for planning, communicating, and winning supportThe stigma of odropout factoriesoe hangs over school districts and education agencies. This book helps turn any school or district into a success factory producing more graduates and better learning outcomes.
Contents
ForewordPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. The ChallengeA Note on DropoutsScopeHow High Can We Aim?Not All Solutions Are Good OnesWhy Not Leave Schools Alone to Figure it Out?Why School Is Not Like Work and Why Students Should Not Be Treated Like WorkersCan High Schools Be Transformed?Why Students Don't GraduateThe Role of Pre-High School and Why Focus on High SchoolsWhy High Schools Are Hard to ChangeConclusion2. The FrameworkKnow the Status and Progress of Every Student, Know the Reasons for Any Problems, and Intervene as Soon as There Are Signs of DifficultiesProvide a Program That Enables All Students to Achieve a Good OutcomeImproving Daily Teaching and Learning Is Essential to Achieving Better High School Outcomes; To Do This Requires a Thoughtful and Specific StrategyConnect Schools Deeply to Their Local and Broader CommunityResourcing ImprovementConclusion3. Connecting With Every StudentMonitoring Student ProgressAssigning Responsibility for Following StudentsPaying Attention to Specific GroupsAttendance, Discipline, and SuspensionsStudent VoiceConclusion4. Curriculum and Graduation RequirementsThe Challenge of Diverse Student InterestsThe Role of the GEDVocational EducationHow Many Courses and How Much Variety?Organizing TeachingAssigning StaffHelping to Reduce Failure RatesCo-CurriculumAlternative Programs and SchoolsConclusion5. Improving Teaching and LearningComprehensive Reform ModelsRelevanceHands-On LearningCollective Work By TeachersEffective Student AssessmentStudent Engagement in Teaching and LearningThe Role of Information TechnologyIndependent LearningConclusion6. Connecting with CommunityWorking With Parents and FamiliesWorking With Community GroupsWorking With Postsecondary InstitutionsLearning About Work as a School and Community FunctionConclusion7. ImplementationResearch, Data, and EvidenceSteps to Effective ImplementationDistractionsConclusion8. ConclusionEpilogueReferencesIndex
