Transcript Pathways to College: Improving Students’ Access to and Readiness for College ————————— September 29, 2009 Charles Sumner School Washington, DC.

Pathways to College:
Improving Students’ Access
to and Readiness for College
—————————
September 29, 2009
Charles Sumner School
Washington, DC
SEE Forums:
 Becki Herman, SEE Forums Director,
Managing Research Scientist, American
Institutes for Research (www.air.org)
 Supported through a grant from the
Institute of Education Sciences
(ies.ed.gov) of the U.S. Department of
Education
Panelists:
 Tom Bailey, Director, National Center for
Postsecondary Research, Columbia
University
 Cecilia Rouse, Member of the White House
Council of Economic Advisers
 Mel Riddile, Associate Director for High
School Services, National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
Helping Students Navigate the Path to
College: What High Schools Can Do
Thomas Bailey, Director
Community College Research Center
National Center for Postsecondary Research
Presented at
Scientific Evidence in Education Forum
Washington, DC
September 29, 2009
Background
• Gains in access over the last 30 years
• Low income and minority students are still much
less likely to enroll in college
• To achieve the currently accepted goals of
significant increase in college graduation,
access and preparation must be strengthened
• Success in college is also built on solid
preparation for the academic, social, and cultural
college environment
High School Completion and Initial
Postsecondary Enrollment by SES
Quartile Eighth Graders in 1988
80
70
Percent of SES Quartile
60
No PSE, No HS
50
No PSE w/HS or GED
PSE 2-Yr or <2-Yr
40
PSE 4-Yr
30
20
10
0
Lowest
Second
Third
Highest
Sequence of Preparation
• Do they have access to a program that prepares
them for college?
• Do they know what they need to do and where
they stand?
• Are they prepared for the academic demands of
colleges and the college culture and norms?
• Do they take the concrete steps needed to gain
access to college and secure funding?
Recommendation 1
• Offer courses that prepare students for
college-level work.
– Implement a curriculum that prepares all
students for college.
– Include opportunities for college-level work for
advanced students.
• Ensure that students understand a
college-ready curriculum by 9th grade.
– Develop a four-year course trajectory with
each 9th grader.
Recommendation 2
• Utilize assessment measures throughout
high school.
– Utilize performance data to inform students
about their proficiency.
– Create an individualized plan for students.
– Offer courses and curricula that prepare
students for college-level work.
• Assist students in overcoming deficiencies
as they are identified.
Recommendation 3
• Surround students with adults and peers
who support college-going aspirations.
– Provide mentoring for students.
– Facilitate student relationships with peers who
plan to attend college.
– Provide hands-on opportunities for students to
explore different careers.
Recommendation 4
• Assist students in completing critical steps
for college entry.
– Ensure students prepare for, and take, the
appropriate college entrance exam.
– Assist students in their college search.
– Assist students in completing applications and
other critical steps for college entry.
Recommendation 5
• Increase financial awareness.
– Increase families’ financial awareness.
– Organize workshops about college
affordability, scholarship, and financial aid.
• Help students apply for aid.
– Help students and parents complete financial
aid forms.
Contact Information
Thomas Bailey: [email protected]
URL for the Practice Guide:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications/practiceguides/
NCPR website: http://www.postsecondaryresearch.org
CCRC website: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu
The Obama Administration and
Reforming High School Education
Cecilia Rouse
Member, Council of Economic Advisers
September 29, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• Expands Pell Grants:
– Adds $15.8 million in Federal Pell Grants through FY 2011, with a
maximum grant of $4,860 for a student in 2009-2010.
– Adds $200 million in Federal Work-Study program funding through
FY 2011.
• The American Opportunity Credit
– Expands the Hope Credit to up to $2,500 per student per year.
– Expands eligibility to individuals making up to $80,000 AGI ($160,000
for married couples).
“I'll simplify the financial aid application
process so that we don't have a million
students who aren't applying for aid
because it's too difficult.”
– President Barack Obama
“You basically have to have a Ph.D. to figure
that thing out.”
– U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
• 16 million students apply for financial aid per year;
• The form is six pages with 153 questions; more
complicated than most tax forms.
• Research suggests students are hindered by the
application process.
The Administration’s three-part plan
for simplification
• Streamline the current online FAFSA.
• Allow applicants to access data they have provided to
the IRS to complete the FAFSA.
• Eliminate the most difficult questions from the FAFSA.
Reporting of Non-IRS Subtractions from
and Additions to Income by 2009-10 Applicants
Income Adjustment
Parents of
Dependents
Dependent Independent
Students
Students
SUBTRACTIONS FROM INCOME
Child Support Paid
1.6%
0.1%
2.1%
Taxable Earnings from Need-Based
Employment
0.1%
2.6%
1.1%
Grant Aid Reported to the IRS in AGI
2.4%
3.3%
3.5%
Combat Pay
0.1%
0.0%
0.1%
Child Support Received
6.1%
0.1%
0.4%
Living Allowances for Military, Clergy,
Others
1.0%
0.1%
0.8%
VA Non-Education Benefits
0.6%
0.0%
0.8%
Other Untaxed Income
2.2%
0.2%
1.9%
ADDITIONS TO INCOME
Correlation of Pell Grant Awards between
the Current Formula and Proposed Formula
Independents
Independents
without Dependents with Dependents
All
Dependents
Create Asset
Limitation
0.98
0.97
0.99
0.997
Create Asset
Limitation
and Eliminate
Certain Income
Adjustments
0.85
0.83
0.85
0.91
Change in Pell Awards by Dependency Status,
Dropping All Non-IRS Financial Questions
Dependents
(38% of total)
Decreases by more than $250
Independents
without
Dependents
Remains within +/- $250
Increases by more than $250
(19% of total)
Independents
with
Dependents
(42% of total)
All Pell
Recipients
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percent of Pell Recipients
Note: Sample consists of students who are eligible for a Pell grant under the current formula or the revised
formula. The figures do not include changes to aid awards based upon information that is reported incorrectly.
The High School Graduation Initiative
• The President’s FY 2010 budget proposal included $50 million for the
High School Graduation Initiative.
• It would support grants to local educational agencies to implement
proven strategies for reducing the number of students who drop out
before completing secondary school and for assisting youth to
reenter school after they have dropped out.
The House Recently Passed the Student Aid and
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
•
Starting in 2011, increases the maximum Pell Grant amount by CPI plus 1%,
raising the maximum grant to $5,550 in 2010 and $6,900 in 2019.
•
Lowers interest rates on need-based loans; expands access to Perkins
loans.
•
Simplifies FAFSA forms.
•
Creates a new Community College Challenge Grant program and the
American Graduation Initiative both aimed at increasing completion by (e.g.,)
improving transfer rates, industry partnerships, enhancing support services,
building links with high schools.
SEE Forum
“Pathways to College”
Mel Riddile, Ed.D
Associate Director, NASSP
2006 National
High School Principal
of the Year
[email protected]
34
1. College-level Curriculum
“ACT: Forgotten Middle”
“On the Front Lines of Schools”
“Time To Act”
Learner Readiness
 Skills
 Literacy
 Algebra
 6-year plan
 By 7th Grade
 Externally Moderated Courses
 AP
 IB
 Dual Enrollment




35
2. On-Target
Diagnostic Assessments
 Reading
 Lexiles
 Reader > Text > Occupation
 Writing
 Community College Placement Exams
 College Placement Exams
36
2. On-Target
 Course content to standards
 Customization
 ILP
37
3. Support System
 AVID
 College Partnership
 College visits
 School to college agreements
38
4. Critical Steps
 Systemic Awareness
 Plan
 “Invite don't announce!”
 Hands-on
 PSAT
 SAT Prep
 SAT
 SAT "brush-up"
 Application
 Career Centers
39
5. Financial Awareness
 Systemic Awareness
 Workshops
 Online resources
 Scholarship Fund
40
Contact Us:
SEE FORUMS
American Institutes for Research
1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW
Washington, DC
Attn: Becki Herman
[email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.seeforums.org