Revving the Economic Engine: Aligning Education Policy and Practice to Economic and Workforce Needs

The Education Commission of the States and ECS Chair, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, will host more than 50 commissioners, legislators and education policy leaders from across the 50 states and U.S. territories in Denver this week as part of a yearlong effort to engage every educational sector in revving the nation's economic engine. Featured speakers include David C. Olson, president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Karen R. Elzey, vice president and executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW).

Three new ECS Resources Shed Light on College Transitions

Today the Education Commission of the States (ECS) releases three new policy tools to help students better prepare for, transition into and finish college. These tools come at a strategic time for state policymakers and students alike. "Right now, many high schools are graduating students without any idea of what students need to know or be able to do once they get to college — if they get there at all," explains Stanford University Professor Emeritus Michael Kirst. "Postsecondary feedback systems can provide the information high schools need to adjust their teaching and curriculum accordingly."
Read the full press release.

The Challenge of Assessing School Climate

Terry Pickeral, executive director of the National Center for Learning and Citizenship at the Education Commission of the States, co-authored an article on assessing school climate with Jonathan Cohen, president of the Center for Social and Emotional Education and Molly McCloskey, director of Constituent Services at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. The article discusses how education leaders can get a picture of the whole child and the whole school by using school climate data to promote meaningful staff, family and student engagement — and to enhance the social, emotional, ethical, civic and intellectual skills and dispositions that contribute to success in school and in life.

2008 Election Results

2008 saw voters in 15 states weigh in on a variety of issues pertaining to state-level education policy. This ECS StateNote examines each of these ballot questions, and whether voters approved or rejected them.

Read the full StateNote.

Youth Voting Saw Marked increase in 2008

An estimated 2.2 million more young American voters participated in the 2008 national election than in 2004.

Learn more.

"Media Bombardment Is Linked To Ill Effects During Childhood"
WASHINGTON POST
In a detailed look at nearly 30 years of research on how television, music, movies and other media affect the lives of children and adolescents, a new study found an array of negative health effects linked to greater use. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University found strong connections between media exposure and problems of childhood obesity and tobacco use. Nearly as strong was the link to early sexual behavior.

See all of today's e-Clips stories

College Diplomas Pay

In 2006, young adults with a bachelor's degree earned about $11,000 more than those with an associate's degree, about $16,000 more than those who had completed high school, and more than twice as much than those who did not earn a high school diploma.

Source: "The Condition of Education 2008", the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Working to Improve 9th-Grader Success
Kathy Christie, ECS Chief of Staff
(reprinted with permission from Phi Delta Kappan, November 2008 issue)

Eighth graders tend to get cocky about being older and worldlier than their younger middle school peers. So it can be a wakeup call when they start high school and they’re at the bottom of the pecking order again. Sometimes, though, they still want to keep growing
up too fast and can put their academic success at risk. The influence of a broader number of
peers (both positive and negative), the potential of developing bad habits such as skipping class, and entry into a larger, sometimes seemingly less caring environment can all impact how students react. The 9th-grade year is critical to students’ success in high school.
Read the full column.

Want to Get High School Students Back on Track?
How are states getting young adults back on the road to graduation? Find answers using these new ECS products:

• An adolescent literacy database, identifying states with a focus on literacy skills in grades 4-12
  
  
• Highlights of promising state approaches to get high school students caught up
  
  
• A report describing state strategies to help former dropouts earn a high school diploma
  
  

A Growing Population
Hispanic students in U.S. schools and the implications for American education

This issue of The Progress of Education Reform looks at three recent research studies on academic success for Hispanic students and offers insights on strategies that show promise in promoting greater educational attainment for Hispanic students.

See previous issues of The Progress of Education Reform

Service-Learning Policies and Practices
A Research-Based Advocacy Paper

This paper, produced by ECS' National Center for Learning and Citizenship, translates service-learning’s research-based evidence for education leaders and identifies best practices and policies. Learn more about the five critical components for effectiveness: vision and leadership, curriculum and assessment, community-school partnerships, professional development and continuous improvement.

See all StateNotes

Adolescent Literacy (September 2008)

Virtual High Schools (August 2008)

State Funding Programs for High-Cost Special Education Students (May 2008)

School Prayer, Moment of Silence, Other Policies Concerning Religion (March 2008)

State Education Governance Models (March 2008)

Issues in Funding Early & Middle College High Schools (March 2008)

Cost Per-Day for Extended School Year (Feb. 2008)