High school graduation and dropout rates have long been used as indicators of educational system productivity and effectiveness and of social and economic well being. While determining these rates may seem like a straightforward task, their calculation is in fact quite complicated. How does one count a student who leaves a regular high school but later completes a GED? How does one count a student who spends most of his/her high school years at one school and then transfers to another? If the student graduates, which school should receive credit? If the student drops out, which school should take responsibility? High School Dropout, Graduation, and Completion Rates addresses these issues and to examine (1) the strengths, limitations, accuracy, and utility of the available dropout and completion measures; (2) the state of the art with respect to longitudinal data systems; and (3) ways that dropout and completion rates can be used to improve policy and practice.

PARENTING NEVER ENDS. From the founders of the #1 site for parents of teens and young adults comes an essential guide for building strong relationships with your teens and preparing them to successfully launch into adulthood The high school and college years: an extended roller coaster of academics, friends, first loves, first break-ups, driver’s ed, jobs, and everything in between. Kids are constantly changing and how we parent them must change, too. But how do we stay close as a family as our lives move apart? Enter the co-founders of Grown and Flown, Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington. In the midst of guiding their own kids through this transition, they launched what has become the largest website and online community for parents of fifteen to twenty-five year olds. Now they’ve compiled new takeaways and fresh insights from all that they’ve learned into this handy, must-have guide. Grown and Flown is a one-stop resource for parenting teenagers, leading up to—and through—high school and those first years of independence. It covers everything from the monumental (how to let your kids go) to the mundane (how to shop for a dorm room). Organized by topic—such as academics, anxiety and mental health, college life—it features a combination of stories, advice from professionals, and practical sidebars. Consider this your parenting lifeline: an easy-to-use manual that offers support and perspective. Grown and Flown is required reading for anyone looking to raise an adult with whom you have an enduring, profound connection.

And You Thought Getting into College Was Hard . . . Students who assume they can figure out college on the fly often learn things the hard way—they look back and think, “If only I’d known this from the start!” College Rules! will save you the time and trouble, setting you up for academic success from the get-go. Lesson #1: College is different from high school, and even those who were at the top of their class will need practical advice on how to successfully transition to college life. This updated and expanded third edition of College Rules! reveals strategies that aren’t taught in lectures, including how to: Study smarter—not harder Plan a manageable course schedule Master e-learning technologies Interact effectively with profs Become a research pro—at the library and online Organize killer study groups Feel engaged—even in “yawn” courses Survive the stresses of exam week Succeed even as an alternative or adult student Set yourself up for stellar recommendations Saving time, energy, and aggravation by doing everything right the first time will free you up for that pizza break, ultimate frisbee game, or ski trip even quicker. Why? Because College Rules!

How to Study! ─ Do you want to develop great study skills, learn how to study smarter, and reach your full potential as a student? How to study: “We are always told to study for exams and assignments but I can't remember a time when I was instructed on how to study!” Study tips: Jessica Holsman of YouTube’s Study With Jess and Nickelodeon’s AwesomenessTV is changing the way teens feel about school. In her debut book, The High School Survival Guide, Holsman shares exclusive study tips and tricks to help you with how to get better grades! You will learn good study habits and tips, including: • How to get better grades • How to study better • How to study for a test • How to be a better student • How to study smarter High School Survival Guide: Beyond the classroom, Holsman, who has a degree in Psychology, helps you understand your social skills as you grow from a Freshman to a Senior. From your first year orientation to applying for college and graduation, Holsman provides the best study tips and tricks to help you stay organized, write assignments, complete exams, manage stress and live a well-balanced life! Maximize your full potential, ace your next test, and become an A+ student!

An inspirational and timely reflection on the way we bring up children that will resonate with parents everywhere. 'Longtime high school English teacher McCullough scores an A+ with this volume for teens and parents. Rich in literary references and poetic in cadence, the author also offers plenty of hilarious and pointed comments on teens and today's society.' - Publishers Weekly So you think you're special? Well, think again: you're not. David McCullough Jr, a US high-school English teacher, found himself suddenly famous in 2012 when his commencement address to graduating high-school seniors went viral on Youtube. the main theme of that speech, 'You're not special', seemed to hit a nerve and validate a sense among people worldwide that something is deeply and fundamentally wrong with the way children are being raised today. From infancy, he observed, children are taught to believe they are unique and special, deserving of every advantage, destined for success. Consequently they learn to work hard and distinguish themselves for the sake of status and material reward rather than for the benefit of others - the larger community; the world. Success is defined as something almost entirely selfish. there is little attention or time given to the pursuit of education for the sake of wisdom, or even real happiness. Drawing from his long career as an educator and experience as a father of teenage boys, McCullough will expand upon the ideas laid out in his radical twelve-minute speech and argue that we can do better - as parents and as teachers - than fostering in our children a sense of privilege and entitlement. Watch the speech at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lfxYhtf8o4 Or read it at: http://theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/

For 10 years (and counting), The Naked Roommate has been the #1 go-to guide for your very best college experience! From sharing a bathroom with 40 strangers to sharing lecture notes, The Naked Roommate is your behind-the-scenes look at EVERYTHING you need to know about college (but never knew you needed to know). This essential, fully updated edition is packed with real-life advice on everything from making friends to managing stress. Hilarious, outrageous, and telling stories from students on over 100 college campuses cover the basics, and then some, including topics on College Living •Dorm dos, don'ts, and dramas •Lying, noisy, nasty roommates Finding People, Places, & Patience •Social network dos and don'ts •Friend today, gone tomorrow Classes •To go or not to go? •How to get an A, C, or F Dating •17 kinds of college hookups •Long distance = BIG concerns The Party Scene •The punch in the "fruit punch" •Sex, drugs, and safety first Money •Grants, loans, and loose change •Credit cards and campus jobs In college, there's a surprise around every corner. Luckily, The Naked Roommate has you covered!