A Monograph on High-School Commercial EducationA Survey of Commercial Education in the Public High Schools of the United States. Leverett S. Lyon

Background and objectives: Exertional heat stroke (EHS) continues to be a prevalent health issue affecting all athletes, including our pediatric populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a state policy requirement for EHS prevention and treatment on local high school policy adoption in the United States (US). Materials and Methods: Athletic trainers (ATs) from high schools across the US participated in an online survey (n = 365). This survey inquired about their compliance with nine components of an EHS policy which was then compared to their state requirements for the policies. Evaluation of the number of components adopted between states with a requirement versus states without a requirement was conducted with a Wilcoxon Sign Rank test. Finally, an ordinal logistic regression with proportional odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were run to determine the effect of a state requirement and regional differences on the number of components adopted. Results: ATs working in states with a requirement reported adoption of more components in their heat modification policy compared to states that did not require schools to develop a heat modification policy (with requirement mean = 5.34 ± 3.68, median = 7.0; without requirement mean = 4.23 ± 3.59, median = 5.0; Z = −14.88, p < 0.001). ATs working in region 3 (e.g., hotter regions) reported adopting more components than those in region 1 (e.g., cooler regions) (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.215–4.201, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a positive association between state policy requirements and subsequently increased local policy adoption for EHS policies. Additionally, the results demonstrate that regional differences exist, calling for the need for reducing disparities across the US. These findings may imply that policy adoption is a multifactorial process; furthermore, additional regional specific investigations must be conducted to determine the true determinants of high school policy adoption rates for EHS policies.

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Medical Supervision of High School Athletics in Chicago: A Follow-up Study

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119862503 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 232596711986250

Author(s):

Nathaniel S. Jones ◽

Kyle Wieschhaus ◽

Brendan Martin ◽

Pietro M. Tonino

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

High Schools ◽

The United States ◽

Return To Play ◽

Athletic Trainer ◽

Public High Schools ◽

High School Sports ◽

Medical Supervision ◽

Concussion Management ◽

School Sports

Background: High school sports participation in the United States has increased dramatically over the past 25 years. A corresponding increase in the number of injuries has been noted, particularly in contact sports such as football. This has led medical and sports organizations nationwide to advocate for proper medical supervision of athletes at games and practices. Purpose: To gather information from Chicago public high schools to gauge how medical supervision for high school sports has changed in 2017 compared with 2003. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Survey questionnaires were sent to the athletic directors of all 99 Chicago public high schools to complete via email. The questionnaire survey contained the same questions as in a survey conducted in 2003 by Tonino and Bollier, with the addition of 4 novel questions relating to emergency action plans (EAPs), automated external defibrillators, concussion management policy, and tackling progression drills. Results: The response rate was 66.67% (66/99 schools). Of the 66 responding schools, all with football programs, no school had a physician on the sideline at home games (decrease from 10.6% in 2003), 37.9% had an athletic trainer present (increase from 8.5% in 2003), and 63.6% had a paramedic available (decrease from 89.4% in 2003). In 2017, 65.6% of responding schools had a coach certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) available at practice to handle medical problems, compared with 89.4% in 2003 ( P < .001). Regarding the 4 novel questions, 93.9% of the responding schools had proper tackling progression drills in place, followed by 89.1% who had appropriate EAPs and 93.9% with concussion management protocols, including return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols. Conclusion: Although significant improvement was found in athletic trainer coverage, especially at games, physician coverage was lacking and fewer coaches were certified in CPR in 2017 compared with 2003. EAPs and concussion management protocols were present in most Chicago public high schools. Overall, greater medical supervision is needed, which we believe should come in the form of increased athletic training and physician involvement and coverage, given that expert, expedited medical care saves lives.

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Connecting Research to Teaching: Block Scheduling and High School Mathematics Instruction

Mathematics Teacher ◽

10.5951/mt.89.9.0758 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 89 (9) ◽

pp. 758-768

Author(s):

Steven L. Kramer

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

High School ◽

British Columbia ◽

High Schools ◽

Block Scheduling ◽

Mathematics Instruction ◽

The United States ◽

School Mathematics ◽

High School Mathematics ◽

Block Schedules

Block scheduling is not a new phenomenon. It has been widely used in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta since the 1970s. In the United States, block schedules have become increasingly popular throughout the 1990s, and currently they are spreading to high schools in many regions.

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Paradoxes in Policy Practice: Signaling Postsecondary Pathways in the Rust Belt

Teachers College Record ◽

10.1177/016146811211400106 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 114 (1) ◽

pp. 1-34

Author(s):

Dana L. Halabi ◽

Mitra Saamira

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

High School ◽

High Schools ◽

Young People ◽

Reduction Process ◽

The United States ◽

Comparative Case Study ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Rust Belt ◽

Signaling Strategies

Context Research increasingly suggests that the high school diploma has lost its meaning as a symbol of life preparation. Having faced economic struggles earlier and longer than most regions of the United States, the “Rust Belt” region offers important lessons for the broader nation regarding how high schools might prepare youth for stable futures. Much like in towns in India and China, communities in the United States’ Rust Belt experience a paradox of wanting youth to find successful careers but not leave the area. Focus of Study Recent research connections between high school and college have focused on the role of signaling strategies in preparing young people for postsecondary opportunities. High-quality signals that are clear, aligned, and consistent can positively influence student outcomes. This article examines the types of policy signals that local Rust Belt communities are trying to develop to both improve postsecondary attendance of young people and retain young people in their home communities as they choose career pathways. Research Design Three cases—”Steeltown,” “Milltown,” and “Railtown”—were chosen using a comparative case study design intended for the purpose of explanation building. Data-collection strategies consisted of a combination of semistructured interviews and document collection to ascertain the visions, intentions, and implementation of the reform efforts of the selected communities. Interview protocols explored the actors, problem definitions, collaborative patterns, and implementation of initiatives. Extensive written documentation from each city that served as validity checks of the interview data. Data analysis involved a grounded theory approach of moving from raw data to conclusions using a data reduction process that involved an extensive coding strategy and case histories. Findings The strategies of the three cases suggest that three specific signaling strategies were most often used to address individual and community policy needs in these Pennsylvania communities: achievement, alignment, and awareness. The focus on academic achievement was the most consistent strategy, but weak in terms of providing a connection to postsecondary signaling. Awareness strategies consisted of teaching youth and their families about the growing fields of industry in a local area. Alignment strategies provided a way for youth to see the full pathway to potential careers. They included a focus on creating easier transitions between traditional high school, vocational-technical high schools, community colleges, technical schools, and four-year institutions. Conclusions The alignment strategies presented in these cases were not always consistent with the awareness strategies that encouraged youth to stay local in job searches. Alignment strategies therefore often prioritized youth needs over community needs. If alignment efforts are paired with building awareness of local career opportunities, however, they could help to strengthen and rebuild Rust Belt communities. A combined strategy could both increase understanding of careers and provide a pathway to get the training necessary to compete for these available jobs.

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