Mining the Research

• Report on the Progress and Effectiveness of the Los Angeles Unified School District's Implementation of the Modified Consent Decree During the 2011–2012 School Year (PDF). Office of the Independent Monitor. According to this report, Los Angeles, Calif., schools have made progress and are providing the required services to students with disabilities. Despite this progress, the district has still failed to reach certain requirements for students with disabilities.
• College 101 Courses for Applied Learning and Student Success. Community College Research Center (October 2012). Research conducted at several community colleges suggests that students who take "College 101" courses are more likely to succeed in their academic studies. These courses offer students a roadmap to being successful in college and allow them to understand what resources are available; however, the study concludes that there is not enough time in such classes to prepare students with long-term skills.
• Principal Concerns: Iowa May Face Statewide Demand. Center for Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington (October 2012). A large number of principals in Iowa are eligible for retirement over the next five years, according to the first in a series of state studies. This may cause issues for schools as they lose their leaders and create a demand for new administrators. The study recommends that state officials create leadership and principal preparation programs to ensure education systems are not thrown into disarray.

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