Policies and Practices of Successful Delaware High Schools

Abstract

This study examined the policies and practices used by three Delaware high schools to promote student achievement and graduation. The research found that high schools employed different combinations of policies and practices, including transition programs to orient incoming ninth grade students, academies to organize ninth grade students into smaller groups, extra instructional time to support students not making satisfactory academic progress, afterschool instructional help for all students needing extra help, mentoring, and twilight programs for students missing a small number of credits to graduate. These approaches were based on research findings, sound management, and creative programming. Many had been in place for multiple years, others had only been recently adopted. Although few conclusions about the effectiveness of the specific policies and practices described above can be drawn from a study of only three schools, the case studies do point to key considerations in deciding what interventions are appropriate in any school. These include student population, universal versus targeted services, resource availability, and size of school.