Blogs
How to Improve Graduation Rates: 7 Strategies for High Schools and Districts
Event Date: Helping more students reach graduation is a shared goal across the school community. And for good reason. A high school diploma can open doors to careers, postsecondary education, and greater economic stability. The difference can be seen in earnings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, full-time wage and salary workers age 25 […]
Read MoreEvidence-Based Dropout Prevention Programs
Event Date: Students rarely leave high school because of one isolated challenge. Academic setbacks may build alongside chronic absences, responsibilities outside school, or a growing sense of disengagement, making it harder to stay on track for graduation. Those patterns give schools, districts, and state leaders an important opportunity to intervene before a student becomes fully disconnected from […]
Read MoreWhat Is Skill Development? A Guide for Education and Workforce Leaders
Event Date: Education can open doors. Yet earning a diploma or completing a course is only part of preparing for what comes next. Learners also need skills they can use in college, training programs, and the workplace. That is where skill development comes in. What is skill development? It is the ongoing process of learning, strengthening, and […]
Read MoreWhy Students Drop Out: Understanding the Causes and How Schools Can Improve Student Retention
Event Date: Every year, students across the country leave school before earning a high school diploma. While the graduation rate has improved over the past several decades, the high school dropout issue remains a significant challenge for school districts, state education agencies, and policymakers working to improve educational attainment and workforce readiness. Understanding why students drop out […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Workforce Diploma Programs
Event Date: Across the country, millions of adults don’t have a high school diploma. Many of those adults want to continue their education but need flexible options that fit around work, family, and other responsibilities. At the same time, states, higher education institutions, workforce agencies, and community organizations are working to strengthen talent pipelines and expand access […]
Read MoreWhat Is Credit Recovery for High School Students?
Event Date: Each year, thousands of high school students fall behind in the credits they need to graduate. Sometimes it’s because they struggled in a particular course. Other times, attendance issues, family responsibilities, health challenges, or life circumstances interrupted their education. Regardless of the reason, losing credits doesn’t have to mean losing the opportunity to earn a […]
Read MoreIndustry-Recognized Credentials: Giving Students a Career Head Start
Event Date: Earning a high school diploma is a meaningful milestone—one that represents persistence, growth, and new possibilities. Today, that next step increasingly includes access to industry-recognized credentials for high school students and adult learners. These credentials don’t replace the value of a diploma—they build on it, helping learners translate their achievement into real-world opportunity. What […]
Read MoreSummer Credit Recovery Options for High School Students
Event Date: As districts close out the school year, one challenge remains consistent: how to support students who are off track for graduation. Summer presents a critical window for intervention. Without structured opportunities to recover credits, many students who struggled during the school year are at higher risk of falling further behind—or not returning at all. Exploring […]
Read MoreThe Future of High School: How Online Learning Is Changing Graduation Pathways
Event Date: In recent years, how online learning is changing high school graduation pathways has become one of the most transformative education trends in K–12 schooling. As districts adopt more flexible digital options, students are finding new routes to stay on track — and sometimes ahead — on their path to graduation. The Traditional Graduation Model […]
Read MoreHow to Re-Engage High School Dropouts: District Strategies
Event Date: School districts across the country have made meaningful progress in improving graduation rates. Yet even as prevention efforts strengthen, a critical challenge remains: reconnecting with students who have already disengaged from school. For district leaders, learning how to re-engage high school dropouts is no longer a secondary initiative—it’s an essential part of a comprehensive graduation […]
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