Category Archives: college preparation

Persuasive Writing Ability Key for College, Career Readiness, Teachers Say

Both English and mathematics teachers are more likely to rate the ability to write clearly and persuasively higher than mathematical ability as absolutely essential or very important for college and career readiness. This is one of the key findings in … Continue reading

Comments Off

Lack of Emphasis On Reading, Writing Impedes College Student Learning, Study Says

A new book, “Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses,” says many students are not learning anything in U.S. colleges. “Courses, oftentimes, are not rigorous enough to help students develop their analytical and critical thinking skills,” say the authors. Student … Continue reading

1 Comment

Next Generation Learning Grant Priorities

The Gates Foundation is preparing to fund Next Generation Learning Challenges, a program to help students prepare to work at college level through innovative technologies. The first request for proposals was released this month. Proposals need to address several challenge … Continue reading

Comments Off

Can Innovation Improve College Readiness?

Can innovation help community colleges to produce an additional 5 million graduates, a 50 percent increase, by 2020?  This was one of the goals discussed by President Obama and educators at the White House Community College Summit earlier this month.

Comments Off

Surprising Study Habits That Work

Common theories and advice for studying can be a disserve to students according to the recent article “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits.”

Comments Off

Will Common Standards Improve U.S. Schools?

Twenty-six states have now adopted the Common Core standards in English language arts and math developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, and all but two states have expressed interest in following suit. … Continue reading

Comments Off

Helping Long Term English Language Learners

A newly published report claims that English-language learners academic progress is jeopardized because of flaws in California’s English-language programs.

Comments Off

Poor grammar haunts college students

Almost one third of students are failing a requirement at an Ontario university that they pass an exam on English language skills.  The failure rate has jumped five percentage points in the past few years.

Comments Off

Writing to Read – Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading

Last week a new report, “Writing to Read – Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading,” was released by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Alliance for Excellence in Education.

1 Comment

Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant Final Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Education released its final guidelines for the $650 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grants.

Comments Off