Archived Information High School Reform Learning From Rigorous

Archived Information High School Reform: Learning From Rigorous Research Prepared for the U. S. Department of Education High School Initiative Regional High School Summit St. Louis, Missouri – April 23 -24 Contact: Janet Quint at janet. quint@mdrc. org

How Research Can Help You n It can clarify the problem and help you focus on key points to intervene. n It can identify promising approaches to address the problems you face. n It can help you figure out whether what you’re doing is making a difference. n In this presentation, – Zero in on a key point for intervention- 9 th grade – Discuss some program design principles emerging from existing research

Transitions From 9 th Grade to 12 th Grade In Four Large Urban School Districts 9 th-Grade Students in Comprehensive High Schools, 1999 9 th Grade Entrants 10 th Grade Year Status Promoted On Time 56 Three Years Later Promoted on Time 36 Retained in Grade 7 Summary After Three Years Promoted On Time 36 Dropped Out 13 All 9 th Grade Students Retained in Grade 12 Retained in Grade 100 24 Dropped Out 12 19 Dropped Out 20 20 45

Ninth Grade: A Critical Transition Point Therefore: n High school reforms should address the problems of ninth-graders. n Successful completion of ninth grade is an early marker of a reform’s success.

Research Insights on What to Do n Some kinds of research offer more convincing findings about program effectiveness than others – Highlight the current discussion on standards of evidence n Examples of “gold standard” studies and their lessons n Insights on design principles from other research

The “Gold Standard”: Experimental Studies Using Random Assignment n Provide the most solid evidence about whether an intervention caused the outcomes observed n Are feasible when there are more students/schools that need or want the intervention than can be served n Require close coordination between evaluators and district/school administrators

The Career Academies Concept n Schools within schools -- small groups of students and teachers who remain together n Organized around a career-related theme, with students taking both academic and career-, oriented classes n Employer partnerships

The Career Academies Evaluation n Involved 9 schools n 1, 764 students randomly assigned to program and control groups n Follow-up for eight years

Career Academies’ Effects on Students In-School Experiences Those in the program group n Reported more support from teachers n Participated in more vocational classes but didn’t reduce their academic course load n Got more work experience

Career Academies’ Effects on Educational and Labor Market Outcomes n Higher post-high school earnings for young men, especially those at high risk of dropping out n No impacts on high school graduation n No effects on college enrollment n BUT rates for controls were already high.

Other Random Assignment Studies: Upward Bound and Career Beginnings n Reduced dropout rates/increased college enrollment among low-income students n Offered program enrollees academic counseling, tutoring in high school subjects, enrichment activities

“Silver-Standard Studies” n Expeditionary Learning, High Schools That Work, Talent Development High School n Rigorous curriculum requirements n Professional development to strengthen instruction n Expeditionary Learning: project-based n HSTW: college prep + vocational courses, workplace learning n TD: “Success Academy” for 9 th Graders, Career Academies for grades 10 -12

Small Schools n Important for enabling, facilitating other changes: more personalization, more challenging instruction, more accountability, a safer environment

What’s Important – A Summary n Strong student-teacher ties n Special attention to the needs of ninth-graders n Demanding curricula and high teacher expectations n Tutoring and other opportunities for students who are n n behind to catch up Individual counseling around academic as well as personal matters High-quality work-based learning Professional development to support teachers’ efforts to deliver rigorous, engaging instruction MORE RESEARCH!