Alliance for Excellent Education

The Alliance for Excellent Education website, http://www.all4ed.org./ , "promotes high school transformation to make it possible for every child to graduate prepared for post secondary education and success in life." It encourages input and involvement among all educators and the public to "make every child a graduate."

There is a wealth of information on this site about education, including the State information card for S.C. that includes high school graduation rates as reported by the state, (78%), the U.S. Dept. of Education (60.6%), and an independent estimate (53.8%). The achievement gap between different demographic groups is presented along with estimates of the negative impact that high school dropouts have on the economy. The numbers quoted are staggering.

Another item of interest is a brief on Measuring and Improving the Effectiveness of High School Teachers, that defines teacher effectiveness in terms of growth in student learning that ensures students are successful after high school. Different methods for measuring teacher effectiveness are considered and ways to improve teacher effectiveness are discussed. Continuing education for teachers at university and at regularly scheduled meetings at the school of employment have proven successful in improving teacher effectiveness. In addition, well constructed teacher evaluations, performed by a principal or administrator and based on classroom observations can set a course for improving teacher effectiveness and for advancing a teacher's career. Each of these options requires the support of administration and the allocation of resources for the time and materials necessary for teacher and consequently student success. One can hope to be a future teacher in a district where this administrative support is the rule.