Raising Graduation Rates in an Era of High Standards: Five Commitments for State Action

This paper calls upon state policymakers to commit to five key outcomes and suggests strategies and action steps that they can take to focus their high school reform efforts on ensuring that these commitments are met. The recommended strategies build on the recent actions of states to support the twin goals of college readiness and graduation for all, as well as on a growing body of research and innovative practice and programming that has yielded important new information about the kinds of supports that are required to help low-income and struggling students persevere and succeed. (author)