Women earn a greater number and proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees than they did about 25 years ago.

Between 1979-80 and 2004-05, the percentage of bachelor's degrees earned by women increased from 49 percent to 57 percent.

During that time period, the percentage of master's degrees earned by women increased from 49 percent to 59 percent.

Women earned just under half of the doctoral degrees awarded in 2004-05 (49 percent), an increase from the 30 percent of doctoral degrees awarded to women in 1979-80.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, The Condition of Education 2007

VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 11-, 12-YEAR-OLDS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month launched a Preteen Vaccine campaign about vaccination recommendations for 11- and 12-year-olds.

The three preteen vaccines include MCV4, which protects against meningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis or "whooping cough," and for girls, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against HPVs, which are the most common causes of cervical cancer.

A new Web site, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/, provides downloadable educational materials about the vaccines.

"Many parents do not realize that some childhood vaccines, such as those for tetanus and whooping cough, wear off over time and, as they get older, young people are at risk of exposure to different diseases at school, camp or in other new situations," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

HOW TO GET PARENTS INVOLVED IN EDUCATION

U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education Morgan Brown this month announced the release of a new publication, "Engaging Parents in Education."

The guide profiles five Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) that illustrate how PIRCs can successfully increase parental involvement in education. The centers emphasize the power of strong parent-educator partnerships to improve schools and raise students' academic achievement.

To view and download Engaging Parents in Education, visit www.ed.gov/admins/comm/parents/parentinvolve/index.html.

Source: U.S. Department of Education