By Kenneth C. Gray and Edwin L. Herr

High school students in the "academic middle" are at a great disadvantage when graduation time comes. In terms of traditional career paths, their futures aren't bright. Today's labor market is uncertain and difficult. Tuition costs for traditional 4-year colleges have soared out of reach for many students. And the academic records of these students will greatly limit their likelihood of acceptance and, therefore, their options for further education.

But there are promising alternatives. This timely book explores the choices available to students beyond traditional 4-year colleges, options that carry a much higher probability of success and are more accessible for students in the academic middle. The authors discuss the long-held "one way to win" theory and analyze why it is no longer working.

Using information gained by studying the experiences of secondary and postsecondary students, Gray and Herr document the clear and immediate need to help students regain control of their futures. They explain the importance of learning relevant occupational skills and explore alternative avenues for training, such as 1- and 2-year postsecondary technical institutions and work-based programs sponsored by employers and employee groups.

Other Ways to Win presents three major steps that schools or districts can take to modify school programs in order to create viable options for students. It shows specific strategies designed to involve teachers, parents, and students in the process of better preparing students for graduation and for the workplace.

Every principal, every guidance counselor, and every school reference library should have at least one copy of this indispensable book. 245 pages. Hardcover. 2006.

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