Many SREB states now lead the nation in prekindergarten access, and they can boast of some of the nation’s greatest improvements in early grades reading. These are among the highlights presented in SREB’s 2008 Progress Reports on the SREB Challenge to Lead Goals for Education. The 16 comprehensive reports chart each member state’s progress toward meeting the Challenge to Lead goals — with commentary to help state leaders and the public understand how each state is doing in relation to the SREB region and nation. To see the report for your state, go to the 2008 State Reports.

Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine was elected the chair of the Southern Regional Education Board at the organization’s Annual Meeting in June in Boca Raton, Florida. He succeeds Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who was recognized at the meeting for his service as the SREB chair since 2006. T. Kenneth James, commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education, was elected the vice chair of SREB. State Senator Francis C. Thompson of Louisiana was re-elected the treasurer of the Board.

Tennessee state Representative Lois M. DeBerry, Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, was elected the chair of the SREB Legislative Advisory Council as part of the 57th annual Legislative Work Conference, held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. State Senator David P. Sokola of Delaware was elected the Council’s vice chair. For more information, see the press release.

Too many students leave high school unprepared for employment and postsecondary studies. High-quality career/technical education, combined with a college-preparatory academic core, can help improve student achievement so more students graduate college- and career-ready, says a major new SREB report. Released at a joint event with the Council of Chief State School Officers, Crafting a New Vision for High School: How States Can Join Academic and Technical Studies to Promote More Powerful Learning outlines actions states can take to boost student achievement and highlights best practices. See the report here.

The number of Hispanic public high school graduates in 2008 in SREB states is projected to more than double by 2022, a higher rate of increase than in the nation, according to a report from the Denver-based Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, SREB’s counterpart for higher education in the West.

Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates by State and Race/Ethnicity 1992-2022, shows that many SREB states will see far greater proportions of Hispanic high school graduates and prospective students in colleges and career preparation in the coming years. For more details, see this press release. Or see the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education and state-by-state reports on higher education data trends.

SREB states continue to lead the nation in the overall quality of publicly funded prekindergarten programs for 4-year-olds, a national report shows. The National Institute for Early Education Research’s State of Preschool 2007 shows that most of the nation’s 4-year-olds still do not have access to state-funded prekindergarten.

The report ranks all 50 states on the percentage of children served and spending per child. It also compares the number of quality standards each state meets. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the nation in providing access to state-funded prekindergarten classes, serving 68 percent of the state’s 4-year-olds. Seven of the top 10 states in this category are SREB states: Florida was second, Georgia third, West Virginia fourth, Texas fifth, South Carolina seventh and Maryland 10th. For more details, see this press release. Or visit www.nieer.org. Also, see more information on pre-K programs in SREB states.

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