What Makes a High School a Good High School for Students with Disabilities

This article summarizes the findings and themes from the three high schools we studied. All three schools engaged in five schoolwide strategies for educating students with disabilities. They provided a broad array of academic courses and program options; provided schoolwide support structures that could be combined and customized to the needs and strengths of individual students; worked intentionally to connect students to the school and build their motivation to succeed; created a connected and caring adult community to serve students' academic and social/personal needs; and developed responsive leaders who managed the tensions inherent in the commitment to prepare students with disabilities to be successful in their lives beyond school. The article also reviews the different ways these three school instantiated these strategies. We describe the “theory of action” that integrates the five schoolwide strategies into a synergistic approach in each school and explore implications of the Good High Schools study for practice and for future research.     

Time Use and Mathematics Achievement among American, Chinese, and Japanese High School Students

Cultural differences in the structure of adolescents' daily lives were examined by interviewing representative samples of 578 grade 11 students, aged 16–17 years, in Minneapolis, Taipei (Taiwan), and Sendai (Japan) about the amounts of time they spent in a wide variety of activities. Studying, interacting with peers, and watching television were the most frequent activities in all 3 locations, but the relative importance of each activity differed among the locations. Chinese students spent significantly more time than American students engaged in academic endeavors, such as attending school and after-school classes and studying. Japanese students did not spend significantly more time studying or attending after-school classes than American students, but they did spend more time attending school. American students, in turn, spent more time working and socializing with friends. Differences in adolescents' use of time were related to both cross-cultural and individual differences in mathematics achievement.     

Modifying School Attendance of Special Education High School Students

Abstract

This study evaluated a program to modify the school attendance of special education (SE) high school students. Twenty 1st and 2nd-year SE high school students from a semirural area in the Southeast were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment students received social and tangible rewards for good attendance, and their parents were notified whenever they were absent. All tangible rewards were donated by local businesses, and all procedures were implemented by university undergraduates working for course credit. Thus, treatment involved no cost to the high school. We predicted that treatment would lessen the degree to which students would show the decline in attendance that usually occurs over the course of the semester. As expected, students in the control group showed a significant linear decline in their attendance to SE and regular classes, p < .05. In contrast, students in the treatment group showed no significant decline in attendance over the course of the semester. The findings show that programs like the one evaluated here can reduce the absenteeism of SE high school students without any cost to the schools.     

Academic Readiness and Career/Life Planning: A Collaborative Partnership Focused on Student Learning

The umbrella program called Keeping Options Open, initiated by Johnson County Community College (JCCC), is a collaborative partnership between JCCC and Johnson County high schools to meet the educational and career needs of learners. Assessment of academics and interests are key components when assisting students to make the best decisions regarding their high school and postsecondary educational plans. A pilot program was designed to deliver a series of 3-year tiered career development/academic readiness workshops for students and parents beginning in the sophomore year and building through the junior and senior years. The goal was to enhance career development for high school students by linking it with academic readiness.     

Getting Them There,Keeping Them There: Benefits of an Extended School Day Program for High School Students

Over a decade of research has demonstrated the positive effects of extended school day programs on various elementary and middle school student outcomes, both in the short and long term. The efficacy of extended school day programs in promoting academic outcomes among high school students is less well understood. This study contributes to the existing literature by examining school attendance, credit attainment, and standardized reading and math scores in a group of students at risk of academic failure who participated in extended school day programming. The study compared their outcomes to those of a group of demographically similar students who did not participate in the program. The extended school day program is provided within a full-service Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Community School (CS) in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Results suggest an advantage for SUN students in terms of better school attendance and earning credits toward graduation, but not in terms of standardized test scores. Implications for future research and extended school day policy are discussed.     

阳西高中生英语成绩差异的调查研究

采用问卷调查法,随机对阳西两所高中部分学生英语学习成绩差异进行调查。结果显示:英语成绩处于中间水平的人数最多,达77.6%,分数分布接近正态;口语、听力、语法、阅读发展极不平衡;影响英语成绩的主要因素有性别、城乡差异、父母文化程度、学习兴趣、是否参加辅导班、课余用于英语的学习时间和教师的教学方法等。     

Evaluation of the Long-Term Impact of a University High School Summer Science Program on Students' Interest and Perceived Abilities in Science

Many biomedical research universities have established outreach programs for precollege students and teachers and partnerships with local school districts to help meet the challenges of science education reform. Science outreach programs held in university research facilities can make science more exciting and innovative for high school students and can offer them much more insight into the nature of science and laboratory research than is available in most high school science courses. This paper describes a long-term follow-up study of high school students enrolled in the Summer Science Academy program at the University of Rochester to investigate the program's impact on students' perceived abilities in higher level science courses, on participation in extracurricular science programs, as well as the program's impact on student interest in pursuing a career in science. Students' exposure during SSA to advanced laboratory techniques and their participation in authentic science investigations provided them with a very positive hands-on experience. Students who attended the program indicated that it provided a positive influence on their performance in advanced science courses, as well as their decision to participate in other science programs and their desire to pursue a career in science.     

Yoga Improves Academic Performance in Urban High School Students Compared to Physical Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Yoga programs within schools have become more widespread but research regarding the potential effect on academic achievement remains limited. This study cluster‐randomized 112 students within a single New York City public high school to participate in either school‐based yoga or physical education (PE) for an entire academic year. The primary outcome was mean annual grade point average (GPA). Psychosocial variables (self‐regulation, executive function, well‐being, and mindfulness) were examined as mediators. The study's primary hypothesis that yoga would improve academic performance was not supported by intent to treat analysis; however, a significant interaction was observed between class assignment and class participation. Among students with higher participation, those assigned to yoga classes had a significantly higher GPA. For example, at 49 classes of participation for both groups, students assigned to yoga classes had an estimated 2.70 higher mean GPA (effect size = 0.31) than students assigned to PE.     

高中生考试焦虑和学业自我效能与人格特征的相关研究

用问卷法对福州市三所普通中学的524名高中生被试的学业自我效能感、考试焦虑和人格特征状况进行了测查,发现:(1)高中生被试的总体考试焦虑状况不容乐观;(2)学业自我效能、考试焦虑和人格特征这三者之间均两两存在显著性相关;(3)从三者的路径分析图可以看出,N神经质和E外向通过影响数学学业自我效能间接影响高中生被试的考试焦虑;E外向还通过影响语言学业自我效能间接影响高中生被试的考试焦虑。     

Effects of Participation in After-School Programs for Middle School Students: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of attending an after-school program (ASP) on a range of outcomes for middle school youths. The program operated for 9 hr per week for 30 weeks and included attendance monitoring and reinforcement, academic assistance, a prevention curriculum, and recreational programming. Participants were 447 students randomly assigned either to the ASP or to after-school activities as usual. Program attendance was sporadic. Although treatment students experienced increased exposure to ASPs relative to controls, nearly all youth in both groups reported participating in some organized activity during the after-school hours, and the number of different activities in which youths reported being involved did not differ across groups. Participation in the treatment reduced time spent with friends with no adults present during the after-school hours. No differences between treatment and control youths were found on measures of conduct problems, academic performance, school attendance, or any of the intermediate behaviors and attitudes targeted. The study replicates findings from the national evaluation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program for middle school students using a more rigorous research design.     

Expanding Learning Opportunities for High School Students With Distance Learning

The purpose of the Synchronous Interactive Video Conference Distance Learning pilot program was to use emerging technologies to expand learning opportunities for students at an urban public high school. Through grant funding, students were able to enroll in Advanced Placement and foreign language courses through an online learning provider. Using case study methodology, the pilot program was thoroughly examined through the analysis of multiple sources of data such as surveys of multiple stakeholders, interviews of program administrators, and the examination of student course documentation. The attrition rate was high at 61.9%. The combination of insufficient time for planning and preparation, lack of support for students, and poor communication was detrimental to the program.     

高中生数学焦虑与其学业成绩的关系

分析高中生数学焦虑的现状,探究数学焦虑对高中生数学成绩的影响,为缓解高中生数学焦虑的心理辅导提供实证依据.采用自编的《高中生数学焦虑问卷》评估了207名高中生的数学焦虑水平,运用相关分析和回归分析探究高中生数学焦虑与学业成绩的关系.结果显示：高中生数学焦虑的平均得分为2.65;高中生的数学焦虑总体得分与其数学成绩呈显著性负相关（r=-0.322,P＜0.01）;高中生数学焦虑中的课堂学习过程焦虑和应考情景焦虑对其数学成绩具有显著的预测作用.     

High School Students' Jobs: Related and Unrelated to School

Work experience can be beneficial to high school students, especially when the work is regular and less than 20 hours/week. Previous studies have found that school-related work experience provides more learning opportunities with fewer negative consequences than jobs unrelated to school. This study analyzed responses of 22,183 seniors from 868 high schools who had been employed during the school year. In this study, contrary to previous studies, students with school-related jobs expected to get less education and were academically less able than those whose jobs were unrelated to school. Comparisons of students' self-reports of the quality of their jobs failed to confirm the hypothesis that school-related jobs were more advantageous than jobs unrelated to school. Black students were nearly twice as likely to report having school-related jobs as non-Hispanic white students. The difference in job quality may result from schools underinvesting in high-quality cooperative education, internships, and other forms of work-based learning.     

浅议学历教育应在春季始业--大、中专教育毕业时间应与企业用工时间高峰相衔接

我国市场经济下的企业用工高峰与大、中专毕业时间存在着时间差,应当调整其入学时间和毕业时间,以适应企业用工的需求。这一调整将会影响整个学历教育的始业时间。     

高中生情绪智力与学业成绩的关系研究

为了探究高中生情绪智力的发展现状以及情绪智力与学业成绩的关系,本研究使用问卷调查法,采用整群随机抽样的方法,对342名高中生的情绪智力和学业成绩进行调查研究。结果表明:高中生的整体情绪智力发展处于中高等水平,但是情绪智力的八个因子发展不平衡。整体的情绪智力与学业成绩存在显著正相关,情绪智力各因子与学业成绩的相关模式不同,而且各个因子对学业成绩的预测力不同。据此,可以通过针对性的培训,提高高中生的情绪智力,从而提高他们的学习成绩。     

The Challenge of Improving Urban High School Graduation Outcomes: Findings from a Randomized Study of Dropout Prevention Efforts

This 5-year longitudinal randomized study focused on the effects of a dropout prevention program implemented at two urban high schools. The program incorporated the characteristics of personalization found in previous research to have some positive effects, and typical of the type of programs implemented in many high schools nationwide. The primary program component was the provision of a facilitator for about 60 program students at each school to encourage students regarding attendance, their academic coursework, and personal issues. In particular, the study examined whether at-risk students randomly assigned to the program had better outcomes (particularly attendance, on-time promotion in grade, and high school completion) than those at the same high schools that were assigned to the control group. The article explores reasons for the nonsignificant effects of this program, emphasizing the need for earlier intervention prior to the ninth grade year among at-risk urban students.     

对高中生体育生活的关注效果及影响因素研究-以徐州地区高中生开展阳光体育运动为例

通过文献资料法、问卷调查法、访谈法和数理统计法对徐州市高中生开展阳光体育运动情况和影响因素进行研究。结果：大部分高中生对开展阳光体育运动已经知晓;大部分学校存在着挤占体育课课时的现象;很多高中生没有达到“平均每天活动1小时”的阳光体育运动要求;大部分高中生不经常参与自己喜爱的运动项目;大部分高中生对学校开展的课外体育活动的满意度不高。父母的体育态度、父母的体育锻炼习惯、高考升学压力、学校体育氛围、课外体育活动等对高中生体育行为的影响较大;社区对高中生体育行为的影响不大。并对贯彻实施学校体育文件、规章制度及意见提出了一些发展对策。     

A Comparison of the Extent of Educational Growth of Mentally Advanced Pupils in the Cedar Rapids Experiment

Abstract

Entering high school freshmen (N-421) during the 1971-72 academic year in a rural Arizona high school were evaluated as to their dropout potential on several criteria. Of the 154 identified as potential dropouts, 36 were randomly selected and received a special academic program and 118 were placed in vocational educational classes. A control group of 94 students was randomly selected from those assigned to the regular classroom. The special academic class was designed to hold potential dropouts in school, as w ell as to modify some of the negative attitudes toward school with which they entered as freshmen. It was found that the special academic group maintained their attitude toward school with no drop in attitude occurring. In contrast, the potential dropouts which were assigned to vocational classes showed a slight drop in attitude toward school while the control group showed a significant decrease. A lower dropout rate also was found among the special academic students than the other two groups, a fact which attests to the effectiveness of the program.