 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
High School, Postsecondary, and Career Education
Adult Education and Literacy
Trend Watch
High School, Postsecondary, and Career Education
2002 NAEP Reading Assessment Results Released
The Department of Education recently released the results of the 2002 reading assessment conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2002 describes the reading achievement of 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students across the nation, and of 4th- and 8th-grade students in 40 participating States and jurisdictions. It also includes comparisons between the reading performance of students in 2002 and the performance of their counterparts in previous assessments. The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2002 is available on the Department's website at http://www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/results2002/. Though the report offers some encouraging news about reading achievement among 4th and 8th graders, the results for 12th grade students are cause for concern:
- The average score of 4th grade students increased from 1998 to 2002, but was no higher than it was in 1992. However, the average scores for 4th-grade White, Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander students were higher in 2002 than in 1992.
- The 8th-grade average score, in contrast, was higher in 2002 than in 1992, but was not significantly different than the average score of 8th grade students in 1998. The average scores of White, Black, and Hispanic 8th graders were higher in 2002 than in 1992.
- The 12th-grade average score in 2002 was lower than in both 1992 and 1998. The average scores of White and Black high school seniors were lower in 2002 than in 1992. The scores of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander 12th grade students were no different in 2002 than they were in 1992.
An Urban City School Turnaround
Union City Public Schools in New Jersey decided in 1989 that local control of the schools and a systemic reform were required to help students increase their academic performance. Over the next 14 years, Union City made system-wide changes that were based on literacy first and embraced rigorous interdisciplinary projects with the strong support of technology. The three core principles they followed were:
- All children can learn
- Substantial reform cannot be imposed from the top down, and
- Reform models must "fit" the local community.
For more information, go to www.union-city.k12.nj.us or read the article in edutopia, the newsletter of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
Community College Transfer Students Earn More
Florida (FL) data indicate that in most majors, the starting salaries of graduates with a bachelor's degree are higher for those who first earned an associate's degree at a community college and then transferred to a four-year, public institution in Florida than for those who attended a four-year public institution throughout their undergraduate education. The June Community College Times article cites a study by Florida's Division of Community Colleges indicating that transfer students earned more in 10 of the 14 most popular majors, with political science and government, nursing, and biology majors showing the most difference. Traditional baccalaureate students fared better in teaching and in some areas of business, although the transfer students were likely still ahead because of the higher tuition at baccalaureate institutions. Overall, community college transfers had an average $2,052 higher starting salary.
Top
Adult Education and Literacy
Briefings Held on New Adult Education Blueprint
Deputy Assistant Secretary Hans Meeder held a briefing with adult basic and literacy education state directors and members of education associations on the Adult Education Blueprint on Tuesday July 1. The PowerPoint presentation from the briefing, as well as the blueprint, will be available on the OVAE Adult Education web page: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/index.html
OVAE Distributes State Grants FY 2003 for Adult Education
On July 1, OVAE distributed FY 2003 State grants totaling approximately $571 million for adult education. Grants not only support local programs for adults who have low literacy skills but also assist States in providing leadership in adult education. For a state-by-state allotment table, see http://www.ed.gov/fund/data/report/AdultEd/2003allotment.html.
Top
Trend Watch
Department Resources: Education Data for Community Colleges and Others
The U.S. Department of Education has several new resources providing data on education, helpful for those looking at trends in community college attendance, areas of study, and degree attainment. Two key publications are the Digest of Education Statistics, 2002 and The Condition of Education 2003. Interesting findings include: the increase in associate degrees awarded (20%) outpaced that of bachelor's degrees (14%), the high school drop-out rate has declined, minority enrollment is increasing, and total enrollment for two-year colleges is projected to increase, but less than baccalaureate enrollment.
If you are looking for information on enrollment, completion rates, degree attainment, majors, student characteristics, state differences, financial aid, college financing sources and expenditures, or employment and income data by degree level, the Digest provides ample tables of information from a variety of survey sources. It includes chapters on All Levels of Education; Elementary and Secondary; Postsecondary; Federal Support for Education; Outcomes of Education; International Comparisons; Libraries and Technology; and a guide to sources and definitions.
The Condition of Education provides 44 indicators in six main areas:
- Participation in Education, including undergraduate and adult education
- Learner Outcomes
- Student Effort and Educational Progress, including Postsecondary Persistence and Progress
- Contexts of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Contexts of Postsecondary Education, including characteristics of students, programs and courses, special programs, and faculty
- Societal Support for Learning, including financing for postsecondary and adult learning
Top
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||
Last Modified: 08/22/2008
