Improving America's High Schools:
Preparing America's Future

Selected Resources
A companion to the April 2002 Satellite Town Meeting

High School Reform

Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

OVAE offers a variety of programs and policies geared at young people and adults in order to attain the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare for postsecondary education and employment. Preparing America's Future is OVAE's recently launched, three-pronged initiative to prepare the 21st century workforce.

Institute for Research and Reform in Education

In attempt to ensure that all students work towards success, the Institute teams with schools and school districts to breach the achievement gap among students. As part of their program, the Institute created "First Things First," a clear but flexible framework for reform that districts and schools can adapt to their specific needs. The program is reform plan that focuses on strengthening relationships between students and adults, establishing better teaching and learning, and coordinating a budget and staff that will serve these goals.

The Talent Development High School

Affiliated with Center for Social Organization of Schools, The Talent Development High School is a comprehensive reform model for large high schools that face serious problems with student attendance, discipline, achievement scores, and dropout rates. The model consists of specific changes in school organization and management to establish a strong, positive school climate for learning; curricular and instructional innovations to transition all students into advanced high school work in English and mathematics; parent and community involvement activities to encourage college awareness; and professional development systems to support the implementation of the recommended reforms.

America Diploma Project

To help states strengthen their ongoing standards-based reform, the America Diploma Project helps states analyze whether they have set the bar high enough for high school graduation requirements in reading, writing and mathematics. The Project's partners believe that an American high school diploma awarded in any state should, at the very least, represent a "greatest common factor" of basic literacy and numeracy, a level that will guarantee all graduates a range of choices beyond secondary school.

Southern Regional Education Board

Founded in 1948, SREB was the country's first compact for education. Since its start, the SREB has worked towards improving virtually every part of education at each level- from early childhood to graduate level degrees. One such program is High Schools That Work, which works with the states to offer technical support/assistance, professional development and also provide publications and services to high school sites.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) supports and conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations. Specifically, the Institute's Child Development and Behavior Branch supports research on psychological, psychobiological, and educational development from conception to maturity. The site offers various resources including on reading research.

Jump to Organization:

Office of Vocational and Adult Education

Institute for Research and Reform in Education

The Talent Development High School

America Diploma Project

Southern Regional Education Board

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

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