U.S. cities struggle with graduation rates
On average, 51.8% of students in the 50 largest U.S. cities graduate from public high school, although 17 of those cities posted graduation rates below 50%, according to a new report. Suburban and rural-based public high school students were more likely to graduate than their peers in the city, according to researchers, who reported that from a nationwide perspective, 70% of all American students graduate on time.
America's Promise Alliance. (2008).
http://www.americaspromise.org/

More kids juggling TV, online media
Nearly two in three U.S. children ages 9 to 17 surf the Web and watch TV at the same time, with nearly half multitasking in this way anywhere from three times a week to many times per day, according to a study by Grunwald Associates. The report also found 73% of such children practice "active multitasking," in which they are driven by content on one platform to check out another platform. This trend represents a 33% increase in active multitasking since 2002.

Immigration and education report

Recommends ways for district administrators, school administrators, and teachers to promote immigrant integration in schools, in critical areas including school enrollment, classroom instruction, student assessment, and family and community outreach.
Commins, Nancy L. (2008). Immigrant Integration: Educator Resource Guide. Denver: Colorado Dept. of Education.
http://www.thecoloradotrust.org/repository/publications/pdfs/SIRFI/IIERG_final.2-08.optimized.pdf

Technology and literacy report

Good policy research brief about the impact of technology on students learning, and the conditions for optimal benefits.
National Council of Teachers of English. (2007). 21st century literacies. Urbana, IL: Author.
http://www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Newspaper/Chron1107ResearchBrief.pdf

Mathematics education report

A federal report recommends that schools present elementary and middle school math in a better-defined, orderly manner, in contrast to the jumble of strategies now used in states and school districts.
National Mathematics Advisory Panel. (2008). Foundations for success. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.
http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/report/final-report.pdf

Multimodel learning study

In general, multimodal learning has been shown to be more effective than traditional, unimodal learning. Adding visuals to verbal (text and/or auditory) learning can result in significant gains in basic and higher-order learning. The meta-analytic findings in this report provide insights into when interactivity augments multimodal learning of moderately to complex topics, and when it is advantageous for students to work individually when learning or building automaticity with basic skills.
Metiri Group. (2008). Multimodal Learning Through Media: What the Research Says. San Jose, CA: Cisco Systems.
http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/Multimodal-Learning-Through-Media.pdf

Science education study

American Public Concerned over State of Science Education
This study gauged the attitudes toward science education in the United States, where 44 percent of U.S. adults grade the quality of science education in this country at a "C" level or lower, and 79 percent say there isn't enough attention being given to it.
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. (2008). The State of Science in America. Chicago: Author.
http://www.stateofscience.org/index.php?sid=S20080401134038G2YNMV

High school curriculum study

Assesses strategies for improving high school graduation rates by combining college preparatory coursework with career-technical education, and discusses results and practical challenges. Includes profiles of career academies with combined curricula.
Clark, Patricia; Charles Dayton; David Stern; Susan Tidyman; Alan Weisberg. (2007). Can Combining Academic and Career-Technical Education Improve High School Outcomes in California? Santa Barbara, CA: UC Santa Barbara California Dropout Research Project.
http://www.lmri.ucsb.edu/dropouts/pubs_reports.htm

Preschool study

Preschool status
This national study provides data on state-funded pre-K programs for the 2006-2007 school year, such as percentages of children enrolled at different ages, spending per child, and the number of quality standard benchmarks met. Includes state rankings and profiles.
Barnett, W. Steven; Pat Ainsworth; Judi Stevenson Boyd; Allison H. Friedman; Jason T. Hustedt. (2008). The State of Preschool 2007. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University. The National Institute for Early Education Research.
http://nieer.org/yearbook/pdf/yearbook.pdf

Teacher absenteeism studiees

Teacher Absenteeism
A recent series of studies suggests that teacher absences have a negative effect on student achievement and district finances.
Raegen T. Miller, Richard J. Murnane, and John B. Willett. (2008).
Do Teacher Absences Impact Student Achievement? Longitudinal Evidence from One Urban School District. NBER Working Paper No. W13356
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1009806

Charles T. Clotfelter, Helen F. Ladd, and Jacob L. Vigdor. (2007). Are Teacher Absences Worth Worrying About in the U.S.? NBER Working Paper No. W13648
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1037172