Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB's) "High Schools That Work" ("HSTW") initiative works with more than 1,100 schools in 30 states and the District of Columbia to improve school and classroom practices and prepare more students for success in postsecondary studies, advanced training and careers. Forty-nine Arkansas…

Southern Regional Education Board's State Vocational Education Consortium developed a model for integrating vocational and academic education that includes at least three credits each in math and science; four English courses; and four credits in a vocational major and two in related fields. Eight sites implementing the model have narrowed gap…

The Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools That Work program has successfully raised academic standards for non-college-bound students (the majority of students). Over 400 schools in 19 states now participate. The best HSTW schools feature higher expectations, tougher academic and vocational curricula, heftier homework assignments, and…

This publication examines school and classroom practices that increase students' understanding, raise their achievement, and equip them with knowledge and skills needed in today's world. Several approaches have been identified for high schools to consider in integrating academic and vocational studies: single course integration; joint planning…

Recommendations for improving general and vocational education in the high schools are as follows: (1) providing clearly stated state and local school board policies establishing the purpose of vocational education; (2) upgrading the content of vocational courses; (3) providing students with access to higher level academic content taught through…

The Southern Regional Education Board-State Vocational Education Consortium conducted a Fall 1992 forum as part of ongoing staff development for High Schools that Work leaders. It was devoted to the changing nature of the workplace and the need for upgraded standards of what to teach and what to expect of students in high school vocational…

After 2 years of promoting more integration of academic and vocational curriculums, the Southern Regional Education Board identified 15 educational practices that may raise the basic competencies of vocational students: (1) positive practices can be collected and implemented; (2) vocational completers from pilot sites requiring competency tests…

In 1994, the Student Assessment was administered to over 12,000 vocational completers at 197 new High Schools that Work (HSTW) sites. Findings indicated that career-bound students at these sites trailed academic students nationwide in reading. Teachers in all vocational programs needed to pay more attention to reading. Career-bound females scored…

In 1994, the Student Assessment was administered to approximately 12,000 students at 197 new High Schools that Work (HSTW) sites in 13 states; student scores from the mathematics portion of the assessment were analyzed. Vocational completers had an average mathematics score of 282.0, which was 13 points below the HSTW mathematics goal, while the…

The seven High Schools That Work (HSTW) sites making the most progress in raising student achievement between 1990-1993 are changing the high school system and succeeding with a group of students often considered hopeless. They use the HSTW framework of key practices to improve curriculum and instruction. The specific HSTW goal is to close by…

This book traces the High Schools That Work program from its inception and reports on practices that are helping schools effectively integrate academic and vocational education. Examples are included to illustrate what can be accomplished. Chapter 1 describes the program's goals, key practices, key conditions, and success. Chapter 2 shows how…

The 1996 High Schools That Work (HSTW) Assessment provides ample evidence that HSTW strategies can make a big difference in student success. Students who completed an upgraded academic core and challenging vocational courses met HSTW goals and were actively sought by employers and postsecondary schools. However, too many career-bound high school…

This document, which draws heavily on lessons learned during 11 years of the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools That Work initiative, is intended to help state leaders review their existing system for assessing accountability in vocational education or plan such a system. The document begins with a discussion of the purpose of…