Office of Vocational and Adult EducationOffice of Vocational and Adult Education

August 2004August 2004

Archived Information

Economic Drivers of High Economic Drivers of High School Transformation School Transformation

• Changing skills needed in the U.S. Changing skills needed in the U.S. workforce (see American Diploma workforce (see American Diploma Project, Lexile reading analysis)Project, Lexile reading analysis)

• Demographic trends (baby boomer Demographic trends (baby boomer retirements, immigration influx)retirements, immigration influx)

• Fastest growing jobs require some Fastest growing jobs require some education beyond high schooleducation beyond high school

Challenges in High Schools Challenges in High Schools • 2020thth century industrial model (tracking by century industrial model (tracking by

college, vocational, general) vs. 21college, vocational, general) vs. 21stst century century (rigorous, relevant, relational)(rigorous, relevant, relational)

• Many high schools have not changed at the Many high schools have not changed at the core. They maintain “soft bigotry of low core. They maintain “soft bigotry of low expectations.”expectations.”

• Twin Achievement Gaps -- Domestic and Twin Achievement Gaps -- Domestic and internationalinternational

• 1000-2000 high schools with “weak promoting 1000-2000 high schools with “weak promoting power” (Hopkins)power” (Hopkins)

• Pockets of non-performance and failure to Pockets of non-performance and failure to meet AYPmeet AYP

Challenges in High Schools Challenges in High Schools (cont’d) (cont’d)

• Extensive college remediation Extensive college remediation • Disconnect between student aspirations Disconnect between student aspirations

and high school preparation = low level and high school preparation = low level course-taking among many studentscourse-taking among many students

• Disconnect between academic, career Disconnect between academic, career planning and postsecondary planningplanning and postsecondary planning

• Disconnect between CTE and high school Disconnect between CTE and high school reformsreforms

The Shared Vision for High The Shared Vision for High School TransformationSchool Transformation

“Every American youth will complete high school with the academic knowledge and

skills needed to make a successful transition to postsecondary education or training without needing remediation.”

Preparing America’s FuturePreparing America’s FutureHigh School InitiativeHigh School Initiative

The three goals are to:

1. Equip state and local education leaders with current knowledge

2. Develop the expertise and structures within the Department of Education to provide effective technical assistance

3. Facilitate a national dialogue

• High expectations for all

• Innovative learning structures that fully engage students

• High-quality teaching and leadership, and

• Accelerated transitions to work or additional education

Preparing America’s FuturePreparing America’s FutureKey Principles Key Principles

Launch, Fall 2003

• National High School Leadership National High School Leadership Summit, October 8, 2003Summit, October 8, 2003– Over 700 participantsOver 700 participants– Teams from 46 states and territoriesTeams from 46 states and territories

• Creation of extensive web-based Creation of extensive web-based and electronic resourcesand electronic resources

Resources and UpdatesResources and Updateswww.ed.gov/highschoolwww.ed.gov/highschool

Regional Summit PartnersRegional Summit Partners

• Hosted by the U.S. Department of EducationHosted by the U.S. Department of Education• Co-hosted by --Co-hosted by --

– Council of Chief State School Officers Council of Chief State School Officers – National Governors AssociationNational Governors Association– Council of Great City SchoolsCouncil of Great City Schools

• 44 State and territory teams designated by Chief 44 State and territory teams designated by Chief State School Officers and Governors, includedState School Officers and Governors, included–   SEA officials, governor’s education advisors, CTE SEA officials, governor’s education advisors, CTE

leaders and practitioners, postsecondary officials, leaders and practitioners, postsecondary officials, business-education partners, superintendents, business-education partners, superintendents, principals, community-based organizations.principals, community-based organizations.

PAF:HSI Regional SummitsPAF:HSI Regional Summits

• Billings MT March 12-13, 2004

• Atlanta GA March 26-27, 2004

• Phoenix AZ April 16-17, 2004

• St. Louis MO April 23-24, 2004

• Sacramento CA May 7-8, 2004

• Cleveland OH May 14-15, 2004

• Boston MA May 21-22, 2004

Summit AgendaSummit Agenda

• Friday am – plenary session– Introduction: Hans Meeder– Keynote: Dr. Susan Sclafani– Student forum– State policy discussion (IEL and NGA)– State team introductions – Introduction of content coaches: Amy Bennett

• Friday lunch– Stefanie Sanford, Gates Foundation (2x)– Tom Vander Ark, Gates Foundation (1x)– Dr. Willard Daggett, ICLE (4x)

Summit Agenda (cont’d)Summit Agenda (cont’d)

• Friday pm – Discussion Forums1. Setting Expectations and Aligning Systems2. Promising Practices to Help Striving Students3. High School Reform Models That Support

Student Achievement4. Assessment, Accountability and Data with

Meaning5. Nurturing System of Choice, Innovation and

Excellence6. Accountability and Flexibility in No Child Left

Behind

Summit Agenda (cont’d)Summit Agenda (cont’d)• Friday pm –

– Team Work Session 1, Facilitated discussion• Scanning and forecasting of state policies and trends

– Report-out to all state teams

• Saturday am– Team Work Sessions 2 & 3

• Priorities and Stakeholders• Action Planning

• Saturday Lunch – Keynote Address• Saturday pm

– Team Work Session 4– Final Report-out to ED Leadership

PAF:HSI Ongoing workPAF:HSI Ongoing work

• Communications & OutreachCommunications & Outreach– Develop and implement outreach and Develop and implement outreach and

dissemination plandissemination plan– Roll-out of new Web-based videosRoll-out of new Web-based videos– High School web-site redesignHigh School web-site redesign– Monthly update calls: CCSSO and state Monthly update calls: CCSSO and state

liaisons; High School Allianceliaisons; High School Alliance– Coordinate Intra-departmental PAF:HSI Coordinate Intra-departmental PAF:HSI

Working GroupWorking Group– Monthly e-newsletter for PAF:HSIMonthly e-newsletter for PAF:HSI– Partnerships with NFL and KiwanisPartnerships with NFL and Kiwanis– Student guidebook (tentative)Student guidebook (tentative)

PAF:HSI Ongoing workPAF:HSI Ongoing work

• Policy, Practice and Research AnalysisPolicy, Practice and Research Analysis– Writing and editing new Issue BriefsWriting and editing new Issue Briefs– Speech and presentation prepSpeech and presentation prep– Vetting promising practices and noteworthy Vetting promising practices and noteworthy

schoolsschools– Organize and review of external researchOrganize and review of external research– Coordinate OVAE research and development Coordinate OVAE research and development

projects related to PAF:HSIprojects related to PAF:HSI

PAF:HSI Ongoing workPAF:HSI Ongoing work

• Event CoordinationEvent Coordination– September 2004. NASSP train-the-trainer September 2004. NASSP train-the-trainer

sessions. Portland, OR and Providence, RIsessions. Portland, OR and Providence, RI– October 19-20, 2004. Urban High School October 19-20, 2004. Urban High School

Summit. Partnering with the Council of Great Summit. Partnering with the Council of Great City Schools. Las Vegas, NV.City Schools. Las Vegas, NV.

– November 2004. Pacific Rim Regional November 2004. Pacific Rim Regional Summit.Summit.

– November 2004. Department”s “News You November 2004. Department”s “News You Can Use” broadcast re: Dropout PreventionCan Use” broadcast re: Dropout Prevention

– December 2-3, 2004. 2December 2-3, 2004. 2ndnd National High National High School Leadership Summit. Washington, DCSchool Leadership Summit. Washington, DC

Coordination with related Coordination with related OVAE InitiativesOVAE Initiatives

• Perkins reauthorization & implementationPerkins reauthorization & implementation• Smaller Learning Communities grants and Smaller Learning Communities grants and

leadership activitiesleadership activities• OVAE/DOLETA Youth PartnershipOVAE/DOLETA Youth Partnership• OVAE/DOLETA Skills PartnershipOVAE/DOLETA Skills Partnership• State Scholars InitiativeState Scholars Initiative• Adolescent Literacy Research (NICHD Adolescent Literacy Research (NICHD

partnership, SLC project)partnership, SLC project)• High Schools Closing Achievement Gap AnalysisHigh Schools Closing Achievement Gap Analysis• College and Career Transitions InitiativeCollege and Career Transitions Initiative

www.league.org/cctiwww.league.org/ccti

www.ed.gov/highschool

Send questions and and comments to:Send questions and and comments to:

OVAE@ed.gov

HighSchools@ed.govHighSchools@ed.gov