high school

High schools are a cornerstone of America’s rural communities. When they are strong, rural secondary schools provide twenty-first-century students with the high-level knowledge, skills, and technology they need to succeed in college, careers, and life. In too many rural communities, however, high schools are in trouble. In fact, more than one fifth of the nation’s two thousand lowest-performing high schools are located in rural areas. Despite progress in overall rural educational attainment, rural high school dropout rates are still too high and college enrollment rates are too low. With more than 3.4 million American students currently attending rural high schools, these troubling outcomes are more than a “local” problem; they are a national crisis.

As the school year begins, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is implementing a number of updates to the High School Content Expectations (HSCE) to assist schools in preparing students for success on the Michigan Merit Exam (MME). MDE has listened to the field and in response to concerns, the Algebra II Course/Credit Requirements have been revised to reflect ACT’s College Readiness Standards, Achieve’s American Diploma Project Benchmarks, and the proposed common core college and career readiness standards Michigan plans to adopt. We are also identifying HSCE that may be tested on the MME.

Walled Lake Central High School
National Honor Society Appeal Process

1. A student seeking an appeal of the decision to deny admission into the National Honor Society (NHS) shall submit to the principal within five (5) days after receipt of notice of the admission denial a written request stating the reason(s) for reconsideration for admission.
a. Within ten (10) days of receipt of a request for admission reconsideration review by the Review Panel, the principal shall notify the NHS advisor, the student and the Review Panel of the time, date and place of the Review Panel meeting. This meeting shall occur not less than seven (7) or more than fifteen (15) days after receipt of the request for review.

Education Secretary Says a Focus on Middle and High Schools is “Hugely Important to Us”

Earlier this year, President Obama released a broad outline of his Fiscal Year (FY Y) 2010 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Education. The three-page document, released on February 26, offered a summary of the president’s educational priorities but contained relatively little in terms of actual dollar figures. On May 7, Obama made it t clear that significant reform around the nation’s middle and high schools will be a big issue in 2009 when he made public his detailed funding proposals, which included new investments in adolescent literacy, a high school graduation initiative, and a focus on turning a around low-performing middle and high schools.

"Learning Around the Clock: Benefits of Expanded Learning Opportunities for Older Youth" identifies and describes Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) that improve academic performance, college and career preparation, social and emotional development, and health and wellness outcomes for underserved youth. The term “expanded learning opportunity” is used to describe the range of programs and activities available to young people that occur beyond regular school hours. ELOs include traditional afterschool activities with an academic focus, but also incorporate activities such as internships with employers, independent study in alternative settings, classes on college campuses for high school students, and wraparound support services.

I Can Do What?

Allow any high school student to take one or two online courses at any self-scheduled time and place. (mentor teacher required)

Allow any high school student to take all of his/her courses online at school with up to two of them from home.

Allow any high school student to dual enroll for all but one high school course and the high school course may be an online course.

Allow any high school student to take one or two independent study courses per semester.

Allow any high school student to take up to half of his/her courses as work-based learning.

Build project based learning courses for any high school content.

Build online project based learning courses for any high school content.

Offer college courses on the high school campus.

Teachers Key to Reversing High Failure Rate in Math
March 31, 2009
By Rick DuFour

We received a query from a high school principal about the failure rate in algebra in his school. At the end of the first quarter, 44 percent of students were receiving grades of D or F. At the end of the first semester, the rate had increased to 55 percent. When the administration met with the teachers to offer support, teachers took the following positions:

1. The problem was caused by the fact that middle school teachers were not giving students the necessary skills.

Teachers Key to Reversing High Failure Rate in Math
March 31, 2009
By Rick DuFour

We received a query from a high school principal about the failure rate in algebra in his school. At the end of the first quarter, 44 percent of students were receiving grades of D or F. At the end of the first semester, the rate had increased to 55 percent. When the administration met with the teachers to offer support, teachers took the following positions:

1. The problem was caused by the fact that middle school teachers were not giving students the necessary skills.

STATE OF MICHIGAN  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LANSING 

Wayne County judge tosses out MHSAA rival's suit
8/6/2008, 12:43 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — A Wayne County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Michigan High School Athletic Association by the founder of a rival group.
Robert Davis, who established the Amateur Athletic Association of Michigan in February, filed the civil suit July 1.
Davis accused the MHSAA of misinforming member schools about whether they may legally join other athletic organizations.