The following Web sites feature information on a variety of programs that allow high school students to take college courses or earn college credits, easing the transition to higher learning and future careers.
The Early College High School Initiative
With a big financial boost from a group of philanthropies spearheaded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, early college high schools are being developed in a number of U.S. cities. This Web site details the rationale and general structure of such programs that intend to help low-income students, English language learners, and first-generation college goers have a successful college career.
Community College Research Center
Located at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Community College Research Center explores the changing role of junior colleges, including their growing connections with high schools. Visit the site to find free research briefs, such as Dual Enrollment Programs: Easing Transitions from High School to College, and other reports by the center.
International Baccalaureate Organization
Known in high school shorthand as IB, the International Baccalaureate programs are found in 1,488 schools around the world. These include high school level diploma programs at 500 schools in Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States. The IB credential is recognized as a high standard by 102 universities around the world, according to the Web site, which offers frequently asked questions, information on structures, and some research on its programs.
AP Central
This College Board Web site aimed at educators interested or involved in Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement programs provides the latest details on these high-quality and rigorous courses, which are gaining in popularity among highly motivated high school students. Upon registering for free in "My AP Central," users can personalize information according to subject area interests.
American Diploma Project
The American Diploma Project is working with five states, including Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas, to research, analyze, and explore ways to close the gaps between high schoolers' education and the expectations of colleges and the workplace.
SECME, Inc.
An organization that has prepared "historically under-represented, underserved, and differently-abled students" to enter post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, SECME, Inc., is currently organizing eight early college high schools in U.S. urban areas in southeastern states and Washington, D.C. SECME also offers summer institutes and regional workshops for K-12 professional development.
The Knowledge Loom: Redesigning High Schools
Sponsored by the Education Alliance at Brown University and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, this site offers educators best practice tips and research on such topics as developing learning communities, adapting school organizations to promote student success, standards-based teaching, and fostering independent learning. It ties best practices to recommendations from Breaking Ranks: Changing an American Institution, a seminal report that called for a major overhaul of U.S. high schools, in addition to a list of indicators for success and mapping progress in a given area.