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Improving High School to College Transitions:
The Role of P-20
Jennifer DounayEducation Commission of the States
For “Bridging the Gap to Promote High School & College Alignment”New England Board of Higher Education
Worcester, MassachusettsJanuary 29, 2009
Education Commission of the States
About ECS
• 50-state education compact est’d 1965• Nonpartisan, nonprofit• Serves all state-level education policymakers
and their staffs: – Governors– Legislators– State board members– State superintendents– SHEEOS and higher education leaders
Education Commission of the States
What is P-20?• 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
Why P-20?
Education Commission of the States
Passing the Buck
4-year institutions
2-year institutions
High schools
Middle schools
Elementary schools
Pre-K programs
Employers
Parents
Education Commission of the States
Councils: Method of creationAccording 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
P-16/P-20 council membership
• Governors (8 councils, with rep. on 19 councils)
• Legislators (19 states)
• Chiefs• SHEEOs, 2- and 4-year presidents• Business and labor• Ideally, early learning reps. (18 states)
• OthersSource: www.ecs.org/P-20
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
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
Florida’s Next Generation P-20 benchmarks
• Approved by state board Dec. 2008• Six “focus areas”, including:
– Improve college/career readiness– Expand opps. for PS degrees and certs.– Align resources to strategic goals
• 2007-08 baseline data• Annual perf. measures FY09 to FY15• www.fldoe.org/Strategic_Plan/pdfs/StrategicPlanApproved.pdf
Education Commission of the States
FL benchmarks: Sample view
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
Promising practices: HS to PS transitions
“Promising,” not “best,” because:• Many initiatives new• Student data lacking
Include: • Better alignment of HS exit/college entry courses,
standards• Better awareness of PS testing expectations• Teacher and counselor issues• Dual enrollment/early college high schools
Education Commission of the States
HS/College course alignment
• IN, OK, SD, OH*: HS grad reqts. aligned with 4-year admissions reqts.– IN: End-of-course to measure to state
expectations
• TX, others: Rigorous expectations for all• MN, RI: Integration of college-ready English
and math expectations in HS standards • CO, SD, TX: Informing all students of 4-year
admissions requirements
Education Commission of the States
HS awareness of PS testing expectations
• ACT (CO, IL, KY, MI, TN, WY), SAT(ME) for all• ID spring 2011: ACT, SAT or COMPASS• SD, TN, TX: What ACT, SAT scores matter
• TX: College-ready items in HS tests• CO: Backmapping K-12 standards,
assts. from “postsecondary ready” def.• AR, FL: Let HS students take placement
exams
Education Commission of the States
Teacher and counselor issues
• Info on PS placement exams in teacher preservice/inservice (No state doing this?)
• Explicit training on college prep. in counselor certification, PD programs (No state doing this?)
• College admissions info in teacher preservice/inservice (CO grant program comes close)
• Use state policy to ensure counselors spend time on college prep. activities (CO grant program)
Education Commission of the States
Dual enrollment• www.ecs.org/html/hsdb-de• No state has “perfect” policy… yet• State policy should address:
– Off. mandatory or voluntary?– Funding K-12 and PS equitably– Fair student eligibility requirements– Student/parent notification– Instructor, course quality– Institutional reporting– Program evaluation
Education Commission of the States
Early college high schools
• Relatively new approach
• Early college HS: diploma + AA in 5 yrs.
• Aimed at at-risk students
• Emerging research ► positive student outcomes
• Few in New England?• State-level policies in 6 states (CO, MI, NC, PA,
TN, TX)
Education Commission of the States
ECHS: Model policy components• Access and support• Instructional and curricular quality• Finance and facilities• Alignment with 2- and 4-year institutions• Program accountability and evaluation
• ECS state policy database: www.ecs.org/hsdb-echs
• ECS Oct. 2008 report: “Improving Outcomes for Traditionally Underserved Students Through Early College High Schools” (search “7863” on www.ecs.org)
Now for more about the state perspective…
