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Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
High Schools: Brighter Futures
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Overview
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Over the past several years, Iowa has increasingly sharpened its focus on the changing needs
of high school students. The Urban Education Network’s 2001 “Redefinition of High School”
report and the state’s 2002 “Focus on High Schools” report highlighted the many challenges
facing high schools. Governor Tom Vilsack convened a cross-section of Iowans in 2003 to study
the transitions of students from prekindergarten to employment as part of the Iowa Learns Council.
In 2004, nearly 1,500 participants attended the statewide High School Summit, adding to the
momentum for a new look at high school education to ensure that graduates have the advanced
skills necessary to succeed in an international marketplace - even or especially when it is
contained within our own state boundaries.
As the workplace becomes more sophisticated and the world becomes smaller, Iowa high schools
are challenged to equip their students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in
this rapidly changing environment. As Governor Vilsack recently testified to Congress, the need
to reinvent the high school is well documented. Graduation rates are too low, too may learners
continue to struggle, and much of the curriculum needs to be revamped to better prepare our youth -
not just to become employed, but also to be informed, concerned and productive citizens.
The case for change is clear. The charge now is to encourage educators, families and community
members to rise to the challenge of providing the kind of rigorous and relevant learning
experiences and meaningful relationships that prepare every student for success.
Click HERE for a summary and links to high school initiatives in Iowa.
Click HERE to access high school profiles for each Iowa district.
Click HERE to access the communication toolkit.
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