XAP A Mission We Must Accomplish Gregory M. Darnieder Senior Advisor to the Secretary on the College Access Initiative Denver, Colorado June 21, 2010 The National.

Transcript XAP A Mission We Must Accomplish Gregory M. Darnieder Senior Advisor to the Secretary on the College Access Initiative Denver, Colorado June 21, 2010 The National.

XAP A Mission We Must Accomplish

Gregory M. Darnieder

Senior Advisor to the Secretary on the College Access Initiative

Denver, Colorado June 21, 2010

The National Landscape

“The decline of American education is:  Untenable for our economy  Unsustainable for our democracy  Unacceptable for our children” - President Barack Obama

What is the Mission of Schools?

 Example Statements:  Academically and Socially prepared for future life roles   Graduate College and Career Ready Productive Members of a Democratic Society    A Global Citizen Competitive in a 21 st Century Economy….and beyond “The goal of high school used to be about graduation; now it strives to launch students to college and career success” NYC

What does the research tell us?

    The current structure of middle and high schools do not prepare low-SES students, minority students and first generation students to attend college.

Even when low, traditionally underserved students are academically prepared to go to college they do not apply at the same rate.

Low-SES and minority students receive less instructional time, academic support and help from their teachers in comparison to their in-class peers.

Students college and career goals are often not aligned to their academic preparation.

Source: College Keys Compact, College Board

National Economic Crisis

 Governors, mayors and county board chairs  America’s Promise – Dropout Challenge  5 Building Blocks - Alliance for Excellent Education  Halving the dropout rate  CEOs for Cities –Talent Dividend  1% growth in BA attainment

City Dropout and Postsecondary Enrollment Reports

 Denver  Milwaukee  Chicago  New York  St. Louis  Washington, DC

Metropolitan Area Calls to Action

 Portland: April, 2010  Boston: May, 2010  St. Louis: October, 2009  Philadelphia: Mayor Nutter – 2008  San Antonio: Summer 2010  Kansas City, KS/MO: Fall 2010

7 High School Level Postsecondary Enrollment Reports  20+ States  Restricted to state university system enrollment  College Summit  NSC Data for High School Pilot  National Student Clearinghouse  Student Tracker for High School

Action Analytics – High School Level Reports

 New York City – ‘Where Are They Now’ 2010  Boston – ‘Getting to the Finish Line’  St. Louis – ‘Regional College Access Pipeline’  Chicago – Since 2004  Denver – 2010

Political Leadership

 Boston  Philadelphia  Chicago  Denver  New York  Portland  San Antonio

Organizational Focus

 National League of Cities  College Goal Sunday  College Summit  College Board  CEO’s for Cities  Alliance for Excellent Education  Complete College America

11 DATA ELEMENTS 1.

 High School Transcript Data What do we know about our students during high school?

Senior Exit Questionnaire  What do students plan to do after high school graduation and how many take the needed steps to get to college?

College Enrollment Data (National Student Clearinghouse)  What students actually enroll and persist in college?

IPEDS Data and Barron’s Ratings  What are the characteristics of the colleges where students enroll?

DATA ELEMENTS

Employment Data (Illinois Department of Employment Security)  What students actually work, what are their wages, and in what industries do they work?

FAFSA Data (Illinois Student Assistance Commission)  What seniors complete their FAFSA and when do they complete it?

Freshmen Transition Questionnaire  What issues affect students’ transition to high school and what are their postsecondary aspirations?

Freshmen on track 9.

Career Exploration Data (Choices Planner)  What students are completing college and career planning activities that prepare them for life after high school?

USE OF THIS DATA?

  Regular reporting of student outcomes Career exploration and College Choice (6-12 th grades)    Freshmen on track Postsecondary outcomes Postsecondary planning and preparation  Examine trends to see what’s working   Drill-down to student groups to identify targeted areas for program delivery CTE/AP/SLC/AVID/GEAR-UP      Continuous program improvement Monthly meetings with consortium at U of C Internal weekly meetings Regular dissemination meetings to principals Principal evaluations

14       BUILDING HUMAN CAPITAL TO DRIVE THE DATA Central Office School-Based Staff CEO’s Office Senior Staff Area Instructional Officers Department Managers Program Managers Postsecondary Specialists      Principals Assistant Principals Counselors Teachers Postsecondary Coaches

USING DATA TO DRIVE SUCCESS

EXAMPLE: FAFSA COMPLETION

Seniors complete FAFSA early in calendar year • Check weekly that students = complete their FAFSA • 47.5% by March in 2008— ~ 12% increase from March 2007 15 Seniors complete the FAFSA before enrolling in college Students enroll in college = • Check that students complete their FAFSA • 84.1% in 2009—almost 17% increase from 2007 = • Increased first semester Fall college enrollment from 43.5% in the Class of ‘04 to52.5% in the Class of ‘08

16 What more do we need to know about students to inform policy and practice?

• Certifications and licensures • Employment outside of Illinois • Federal employment • Military enlistment • Incarceration data • Course-taking and grades at postsecondary institutions

Why?

    

Relevant and usable data

  Trust built between researchers and practitioners Make observations and suggest strategy questions

Helps schools and LEA’s be learning organizations Role of researchers as facilitators of knowledge

   Trust Working Relationships Right Indicators

Build Capacity of SEA’s and LEA’s

  To conduct research Evaluate programs and priorities

Other Uses

 Federal grants – SLC, Perkins, GEAR UP, TRIO

18      

Increased Focuses

State Longitudinal Data Systems A Guide for Data Analysts by Gates Foundation

  Dropouts  

Tracking credits (on-track) Sub-groups (over-aged, academically struggling) Mix of School and Program options

 

Schools: magnet, small, career, neighborhood Programs: CTE, SLC, evening, transfer, IB, AVID, sub-groups “The Promise of Proficiency” – College Summit

  Refocus mission of high school beyond graduation Calls for college enrollment and proficiency data

“College and Career Ready” – Early Sector Reports by Chad Alderman

 

Improve high school accountability Calls for:

 

Tracking into the workforce Learning gains resources NSC – HS Students Tracker Reports www.chooseyourfuture.org

College Enrollment Rate Rises Faster than Nation’s

Change in Enrollment Rates Between 2004 and 2008