Closing the Expectations Gap: 2008
February, 2008
Too Few Students Graduate from High School Prepared for College and Careers ■ ■
■ ■ ■
30% of students drop out of high school 40% - 45% of recent high school graduates report significant gaps in their skills, both in college and the workplace 30% of first year students in postsecondary education are required to take remedial courses Faculty estimate 42% of first year students in creditbearing courses are academically unprepared Employers estimate 45% of recent high school graduates lack skills to advance
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
2
What does it take to be prepared for postsecondary education and good jobs?
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
3
American Diploma Project Research Phase 1: 2002 - 2005 ■
Partnership of Achieve, Education Trust, Fordham Foundation and National Alliance of Business
■
Initial ADP research study conducted in Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada and Texas.
■
Involved wide variety of K-12, postsecondary education and business representatives.
■
Examined the work high school graduates do in the college classroom and on the job, and the preparation they needed to do the work.
■
Identified “must-have” knowledge and skills graduates will need to be successful in college and the workplace.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
4
Key Finding: Expectations are the same for both college & “good jobs” ■ ■
ADP found a high degree of convergence. The knowledge and skills that high school graduates will need to be successful in college are the same as those they will need to be successful in a job that: ● ● ●
pays enough to support a family well above the poverty level, provides benefits, and offers clear pathways for career advancement through further education and training.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
5
Key Finding #2: Expectations Gap between High School & Postsecondary ■ ■ ■ ■
Academic standards in HS not aligned with postsecondary and workplace entry requirements HS graduation requirements too low HS assessments not meaningfully connected with students’ college or career aspirations RESULT: Students can earn a high school diploma without the skills necessary for success in college and work.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
6
The 2005 National Education Summit on High Schools ■
In February 2005, Achieve and the National Governors Association co-chaired the National Education Summit on High Schools
■
Forty-five governors attended the Summit, along with corporate CEOs and K–12 and postsecondary leaders.
■
Addressed the fact that our schools are not adequately preparing students for college and 21st-century jobs
■
Reached the common conclusion that aggressive action is needed to address the expectations gap.
■
As a result of the Summit, Achieve launched the American Diploma Project Network.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
7
ADP Network launched at the 2005 Summit: thirteen states committed to improving student preparation WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
KS OK
NM
AK
IN
MO
OH WV
NJ DE MD
RI CT
VA
KY
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
TX
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
8
ADP Network today: thirty-two states now committed to improving student preparation WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV UT
CO
AZ
PA IL
KS OK
NM
AK
IN
OH WV
MO
NJ DE MD
RI CT
VA
KY
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
TX
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
9
ADP Network Policy Agenda
■ ■ ■ ■
Align high school standards with the demands of college and careers. Require students to take a college- and career-ready curriculum to earn a high school diploma. Build college-and career-ready measures into statewide high school assessment systems. Hold high schools and postsecondary institutions accountable for student preparation and success.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
10
Align high school standards with the demands of college and the workplace
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
11
Aligning Standards
■
The goal for states is to align their high school standards with the demands of college and careers so that students can: ●
●
Enter into credit-bearing course work in two- or four-year colleges, without the need for remediation and with a strong chance for earning credit toward their program or degree; and Gain entry-level positions in quality job and career pathways, which often require further education and training.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
12
Align High School Standards with the Demands of College & Careers ■
Nineteen states report their high school standards are aligned with postsecondary expectations, eight more than a year ago. ●
■
■
The eight new states since last year include: Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Twenty-two additional states report that they are in the process of aligning their standards, thirteen of which plan to adopt new standards in 2008. Three other states and the District of Columbia have plans for such an alignment process.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
13
Nineteen States Have Aligned High School Standards WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
KS
OH WV
SC AL
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
TX
VA
KY
MS
AK
IN
MO
OK
NM
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
GA
LA FL
LEGEND States with aligned standards formally verified by Achieve States with aligned standards not verified by Achieve
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
14
Twenty-five States and DC Are in the Process of Aligning Standards WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
AR
SC AL
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
GA
LA FL
LEGEND In process, adoption anticipated in 2008 In process, adoption anticipated after 2008 Planning to align high school standards
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
15
Aligning Standards: Common Challenges ■
Postsecondary and Business Engagement ●
■
Vertical Alignment ●
■
States must ensure that the standards produced reflect the demands of postsecondary institutions and employers, and promote real buy-in from those communities. States must back-map their standards from the end of high school all the way down through the lower grades to ensure that their K–12 standards are vertically aligned.
Fully Implement Standards ●
States must ensure that their standards provide a foundation for decisions on curriculum, instruction and assessment.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
16
Raise graduation requirements to the collegeand career-ready level
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
17
The ADP recommended college- & career-ready curriculum
■
Achieve’s research suggests that for high school graduates to be prepared for success in postsecondary settings, they need to take ● ●
■
Four years of challenging mathematics—at least through Algebra II or its equivalent, and Four years of rigorous English aligned with college and career ready standards.
In 2005, only 2 states had graduation requirements at this level
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
18
Require All Students to Complete a College- & CareerReady Curriculum ■
Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have set their course requirements at a level that will prepare high school graduates for success in college and the workplace. ●
■
Including five new states since last year – Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as DC.
Twelve others report plans to adopt college- and workready diploma requirements for all students in the near future.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
19
Eighteen States & DC Require a College- & Career-Ready Diploma WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
KS OK
NM
AK
IN
MO
OH WV
VA
KY
AR
SC AL
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
MS TX
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
GA
LA FL
LEGEND Mandatory College& Career-Ready Diploma Default College- & Career-Ready Diploma
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
20
Twelve States Plan To Raise Requirements to the College& Career-Ready Level WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
KS OK
NM
AK
IN
MO
OH WV
VA
KY
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
TX
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
21
Raising Graduation Requirements: Common Challenges ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Ensure that as graduation standards are raised, graduation rates also improve. Create a system of intensive and sustained student supports. Ensure that teachers have access to better training, professional development and instructional tools. Provide guidance to teachers to ensure that rigorous courses are more engaging and relevant for students. Guard against course title inflation. Encourage proficiency based approaches.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
22
Build college- & career-ready measures into statewide high school assessment systems
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
23
College- & career-ready measures
■
■
To help prepare students academically for a successful transition from secondary to postsecondary education and the workplace, states need more than their existing tests. States need a component of their high school assessment systems that measures the more advanced skills valued by postsecondary institutions and employers.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
24
Build college-and career-ready measures into statewide high school assessment systems ■
Nine states administer high school assessments also used by postsecondary institutions to place incoming students, including one new state – Tennessee. ●
●
●
■
End-of-course: one state New York Comprehensive high school assessments: two states California and Texas College admissions tests – the ACT or SAT: six states Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan and Tennessee
Twenty-three additional states report plans to build college- and career-ready assessments into their statewide testing system.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
25
Nine states have built college& career-ready measures into statewide assessment systems WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
26
Twenty-three States Are Developing or Planning College& Career-Ready Tests WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
AR
SC AL
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
GA
LA
LEGEND Planning test with anticipated date Planning test with date to be determined
FL HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
27
ADP Algebra II End-of-Course Exam ■
Fourteen states are developing a common EOC exam in Algebra II aligned with ADP math benchmarks ●
■
Purposes of the test: ● ● ●
■
AR, AZ, HI, IN, KY, MA, MD, MN, NC, NJ, OH, PA, RI & WA
To improve Algebra II curriculum and instruction in high schools; To serve as an indicator of readiness for first-year college credit-bearing courses; To provide a common and consistent measure of student performance across states over time.
Additional states will be able to use this exam & the Consortium will consider additional exams.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
28
College-and Career-ready Testing: Common Challenges ■ ■
■
■
Ensure alignment of assessments with state college/ career-ready standards Involve postsecondary systems & institutions in development/review of high school assessments to ensure their buy-in Work with postsecondary systems/institutions to waive placement tests for students scoring at the college/career-ready level on high school assessments Develop strategies for helping students who do not score at the college/career-ready level
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
29
P-20 Longitudinal Data Systems
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
30
Nearly Every State Plans To Create a P–20 Longitudinal Data System ■
Nine states report that they have P-20 longitudinal data systems in place, capable of tracking an individual student’s progress from Pre-K through college graduation. ●
■
■
Including four new states since last year – Delaware, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
Thirty-seven others and the District of Columbia have plans to develop or operationalize P-20 longitudinal data systems, including at least two in 2008. The remaining four states report having no plans ●
Montana, Nebraska, Vermont and West Virginia
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
31
Nine states have created a P–20 longitudinal data system WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
32
Thirty-Seven States & DC Are Developing or Planning P–20 Longitudinal Data Systems WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
AR
SC AL
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
GA
LA FL
LEGEND P-20 data system online in 2008 P-20 data system online 2009-2011 P-20 data system planned (no date)
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
33
P–20 Longitudinal Data Systems: Common Challenges
■
Policy & resource barriers more significant than technical ones
■
Privacy concerns a challenge for most states
■
Data systems must be accompanied by tools & training to help schools and school systems access, understand and act on the data.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
34
Hold high schools accountable for the preparation of students for postsecondary success
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
35
What do current high school accountability systems value?
■ ■ ■ ■
“Proficiency” on tests measuring knowledge & skills students should learn by early in high school Graduation rates Other measures, such as attendance… But college & career readiness rarely measured & valued
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
36
Few states hold high schools accountable for college- & career-readiness ■
An accountability system that measures college- & career-readiness should take into account key indicators including ● ● ● ●
an accurate graduation rate; 10 whether students have completed a college- & careerready curriculum; 7 whether students have reached a statewide college- & career-ready cut score on a high school assessment; 0 whether students have been placed into credit-bearing, non-remedial courses in reading, writing and mathematics.
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
2 37
Ten States Use the NGA or Similar Cohort Graduation Rate for Accountability Purposes WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
38
Seven States Factor College- & Career-Ready Diplomas in Their Accountability Formula WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
AR
SC MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
39
Hold high schools accountable for student preparation and success WA MT
ND
VT
OR
MN ID
SD
WI
WY
CA
NH ME
NV
PA IL
UT
CO
AZ
IN
OH WV
KS OK
NM
MO
TX
VA
KY
AR
SC AL
GA
LA FL
HI
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
NJ DE MD DC
RI CT
NC
TN
MS
AK
MI
IA
NE
MA
NY
LEGEND Hold schools accountable for ADP-like diploma & cohort graduation rate Plan to hold high schools accountable for both indicators
40
Hold high schools accountable for student preparation and success ■
Four states factor both an accurate cohort graduation rate and an indicator of whether students are earning college- and career-ready diploma into the high school accountability system. ●
■
Louisiana, New York, North Carolina and Texas
Six other states and the District of Columbia plan to include both of these indicators in their accountability system in the future. ●
DC, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
41
A growing number of states have policies that help prepare H.S. graduates for college and careers Aligning S tandards
11
Aligning Graduation Requirements
13
Aligning Assessments
8
Aligning Data S ystems
5
Aligning Accountability
4 0
In place by 2007
8 6 1 4
13
13
12 23
2
36
7 10
In place by 2008
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
20
30
Anticipate in place by 2009
40
50
In process/planned
42
Individual Policies Standing Alone Will Not Close the Expectations Gap ■
Each of the ADP recommended policies will need to be integrated into a comprehensive strategy for closing the Expectations Gap. ●
Standards and assessments must be in alignment ◆
●
Curriculum requirements must be aligned with standards ◆
●
●
Both must be aligned with college- and career-ready expectations Course-level standards, model curricula
Assessments must be able to adequately measure whether students have learned the curriculum and are ready for college and careers. Data & accountability systems must work in tandem to support these goals
AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT
43
Closing the Expectations Gap: 2008
February, 2008