P-16 Alignment

Jennifer Dounay Education Commission of the States ECS Regional Meeting for the Heartland/Midwest Kauffman Foundation Center Kansas City, MO December 9, 2008

Objectives of session

National perspective on: • Creation of, membership on P-16s, P-20s • Common challenges councils face • State responses to challenges Discussion: • What do you see as challenges to P-16, solutions? What’s working, not working?

• Is there a way to get alignment w/o P-16 council?

• Ways to assist your state council if not a member?

Education Commission of the States

What is P-16?

• It may include a council • It can (and should be) more than a council: – Data systems – Funding mechanisms – Ways of thinking – Public support – Legislation, rulemaking, executive decisionmaking Education Commission of the States

Passing the Buck

Middle schools Elementary schools Parents Pre-K programs High schools Employers 4-year institutions 2-year institutions Education Commission of the States

Who’s lobbying for alignment?

According to ECS P-16/P-20 database ( www.ecs.org/P-20 ): • Govs: 11 states • Legislatures: 10 states • State boards: 2 states • Voluntary efforts: 14 states • These have changed over time: GA, IL, MD, NV, others Education Commission of the States

Who’s on board?

• Governors (8 councils, w/gov rep on 19 councils) • Legislators (19 states) • Chiefs • SHEEOs, 2-/4-year presidents • Business and labor (32 states) • Others • Ideally, early learning reps (18 states) Education Commission of the States

Creating a P-16 council just the starting point

• Some councils leverage little change • Essential elements to consider: – Actors – Agenda – Appropriation of resources Education Commission of the States

Actors

• Goldilocks: Not too big, not too small • Early learning • Legislative • Gubernatorial • Business community • Clarity re: council mission and roles • Meet at least quarterly Education Commission of the States

The importance of including the “P” in P-16, P-20

• Early years matter for later student success • States w/o explicit early learning rep. unlikely to tackle early learning • AZ: Early ed. ad hoc committee – Incorporate P-3 into standing committees • HI: $10 million, 8-yr. grant Education Commission of the States

Including legislators

• Helps ensure the right hand knows what left hand is doing • Facilitates communication b/w P-12, higher ed. and lawmakers • Policy institutionalizes practice • Some of the most successful states: IN, AZ*, CO* Education Commission of the States

Including gov’s office

• Governors hold bully pulpit • Gov’s presence sets tone for importance of council’s work • Govs on 8 councils • Rep. on add’l 19 councils • Include AZ, GA, IN, KY, NC, OH, RI – States w/substantial P-16 accomplishments Education Commission of the States

Meet at least quarterly

• Reduces inertia, “amnesia” b/w mtgs.

• Increases urgency of council to-dos • 29 states meet at least quarterly • Include AZ, CO: states that have made gains in relatively short time Education Commission of the States

Agenda

• Not too broad (5 issues or fewer) • Specific (not “improving student success”) • Something each agency can’t do alone • Specific, measurable goals (16 states) • Balanced scorecard (Georgia) Education Commission of the States

Common areas of activity

• High school to postsecondary transitions: 26 states (can take many forms) • Data systems, use of data: 19 states • Teachers: recruitment, preparation, retention, prof. devt.: 19 states • Postsec. retention/transfer/completion: 13 states • Early learning: 8 states Education Commission of the States

Setting goals

• Don’t know if you’re getting there if you don’t know where you’re going • Numeric goals, based on reliable data • 16 states – Most goals re: HS or PS completion Education Commission of the States

Georgia’s Balanced Scorecard

(http://www.usg.edu/p16/resources/PDFs/P-16_Balanced_Score_Card.pdf) Education Commission of the States

Appropriation of resources

• Financial resources – Communications can build public support • Human resources – Research policy solutions – Support policy/program implementation Education Commission of the States

Financial resources

• State funds (leg. appropriation or built in agencies’ budgets) – 22 states • “Other” funds – 10 states – Foundation – Business – Federal • “Sustainability”: NE, WY Education Commission of the States

Human resources

• Council supported by min. .5 FTE: 21 councils • Include councils that have made substantial gains Education Commission of the States

What we still don’t know

• Does it matter: – who is lead agency?

– which agency staffs the council?

– how many FTEs support council? – where council gets its funding?

• What’s the impact of local/regional P-16 councils? Education Commission of the States