When built around four key elements, academies deliver rigorous, relevant learning tied to students' career aspirations.
Families need better data on students' academic progress; students need meaningful learning experiences and better information on postsecondary options.
Connecticut's experience underscores the value of a positive, systemic approach to improving attendance.
High schools are creating student success teams that prioritize relationships and leverage actionable data to reconnect students to school.
Targeted interventions and savvy classroom practices, coupled with supportive state policy, can draw disengaged students back in.
State boards can take a lesson from schools that already dish up rigorous assignments in college- and career-ready courses alike and ensure more schools do it.
State leaders should retire the Carnegie unit and open the door for high school designs that ensure learning is engaging, relevant, experiential, and competency based.
New graduation requirements aim to align with college admission standards and address inequities in college and career readiness.