Volume 1, July 2024

Message from the SREB President

Beth Day — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:32:00 +0000

Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt

Welcome to the first edition of the SREB Journal of Education Practices and Trends. Since SREB’s inception in 1948, the organization has served as a convener of education leaders, state officials, and other policymakers to improve education.

Funding of Higher Education

Leonard — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:03:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) releases the State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report annually. These charts offer comparisons of various data points across all states, with a focus on the SREB states, based on the 2023 SHEF report, which reflects data from the most recently completed fiscal year.

Collaborative Online Course Sharing Supports Student Success at HBCUs and MSIs

Leonard — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

Elisa Jaden, Ed.S., Program Specialist, Student Access and Success, SREB

Jamila S. Lyn, Chief Student Success Strategist, Bottom Up Thinking
Former Director of Specialized Programming, Benedict College

The white paper focuses on the impact of collaborative online course sharing at historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions and highlights the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) HBCU-MSI Course Sharing Consortium in removing barriers to student success.

Assessing the Impact of State Economies and Investment in Higher Education

Leonard — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 16:13:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

Dr. Emily C. Erwin, Associate Professor of Curricular Analytics, Louisiana State University

Researchers postulate that state economies predominately based on natural resources and agriculture are less likely to invest in postsecondary education. International data has shown that nations with these economies do not invest in human capital. This excerpt of the study presents data to update findings and recommendations on these factors. A link to the full article is available for further review.

Increasing FAFSA Completion: Comparisons of Projects Across SREB States

Leonard — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:58:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

Dr. Rusty Monhollon, Vice President, Academic Affairs, The Kansas Board of Regents

Former President and Executive Director, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

Jessie Lynn Nichols, Ph.D. Student, Auburn University

Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas, all SREB members, have mandatory FAFSA completion requirements. This article compares each state’s approach and results of implementation, shares the potential impact of the new FAFSA form, and makes recommendations for states in the early stages of considering the addition of a FAFSA completion initiative.

Opportunities and Obstacles for In-State Retention of University Graduates

Leonard — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:45:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

Bryn Bakoyema, Assistant Vice President for Planning and Strategic Analysis, Alabama State University

Tiara Fencher, Ph.D. Student, Alabama State University

An excerpt of the 2021 SAIR Best Paper award, this article summarizes a state’s retention challenges of college graduates identified from a college student survey and how the state responded to those challenges.

Effectiveness of Early Literacy Policies When Statewide Efforts Support Them

Beth Day — Mon, 13 May 2024 20:37:00 +0000

Journal of Education Practices and Trends, July 2024

Dr. Kristin Javorsky, Associate Professor, Early Literacy Education, Mississippi State University

Dr. Kellie Fondren, Assistant Professor, Special Education, Mississippi State University

Dr. Angela Mulkana, Assistant Teaching Professor, Elementary Education, Mississippi State University

Kim Smith, Instructor, Elementary Education, Mississippi State University

Mississippi has transformed their literacy outcomes through strategies focused on improving the reading skills of public-school students in kindergarten through third grade, referred to as the Mississippi Miracle. The Literacy-Based Promotion Act led to significant changes, especially within Mississippi’s teacher education programs, resulting in great reading achievements of school districts and students.