Understanding the New Graduation Rate Sample Presentation 1

Why Did the Graduation Calculation Change?  In an effort to standardize the method being used among the states, the U.S. Department of Education has mandated a four-year adjusted cohort calculation method for all states, beginning in the school year.  The intent is to have a uniform, comparable rate and to be transparent about graduation data. 2

What is the Four- Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate? The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier (adjusting for transfers in and out). 3

2010 Four- Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Formula # of cohort members graduating by ( ) # 1 st time 9 th graders (fall 2006) plus transfers in, minus students who transfer out, emigrate or die during , , ,

What is Different about the Four- Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate? The number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier (adjusting for transfers in and out). 1. Students must graduate in four years 2. Students must receive a regular high school diploma 3. Students can only transfer out of the cohort with certain EXIT codes 5

1. Students must graduate in four years  In order to be included in the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, a student must receive their diploma by Oct 1 (in the year they graduate).  Any student who takes longer than four years to graduate will be counted as a non-graduate in the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.  This does apply to students with disabilities who have an IEP and English language learners who have an ILP that says they can stay in school until their 21. 6

2. Students must receive a regular high school diploma  A regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma awarded to students in a state that is fully aligned with the state’s academic content standards and does not include a GED credential, certificate of attendance, or any alternative award.  Students who leave high school to attend an unaccredited private school or homeschool will count as non-graduates because these schools are not required to be fully aligned with the state’s academic content standards. 7

3. Students can only transfer out of the cohort with certain EXIT codes  A student can transfer out of the cohort for the following reasons:  Transfer to a public school in Kansas  Transfer to a public school in another state  Transfer to an accredited private school  Transfer to a juvenile correctional facility where educational services are provided  Moved to another country  Student death  All other EXIT codes (except graduation) will count the student as a non-graduate. 8

How is the Cohort Established?  The Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS) system allows us to track individual students throughout their high school career.  The cohort is established the first time we see the student as a ninth grader.  First-time ninth grade status is based on End of Year Accountability (EOYA) records. 9

How is Subgroup Membership Determined?  Race, ethnicity and gender:  Based on the EXIT or EOYA record with the latest school entry date.  Students with disabilities, free and reduced lunch, English learners, migrant and homeless status:  Based on whether the student was classified in these subgroups at any time during high school 10

How is the Cohort Finalized?  The last EXIT record submitted for a student during his or her high school years is used when calculating the graduation rate.  EXIT codes determine status of student at time of cohort graduation rate calculations (i.e. graduate, non-graduate or transfer out)  If a student has an EOYA record but no EXIT record then it is presumed that the student is remaining in school for a fifth year. 11

What About Early Graduates?  Students who graduate in less than four years will have their graduation “banked” and applied to their original cohort graduation rate. 12

What About Late Graduates?  Students who graduate over the summer (by Oct 1 st ) will be included in their four-year adjusted cohort rate.  Students who graduate the following year (their fifth year) will be counted as graduates in their five-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.  The state is considering whether to calculate a six-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. 13

Kansas 2010 Graduation Rates Student Group4-Year ( ) 5-Year ( ) All Students80.7%75.2% Free/Reduced70.1%63.3% IDEA students68.7%65.6% ELL66.8%62.2% Black/African Am.66.2%60.5% Hispanic70.3%62.1% White84.5%81.1% 14

Kansas 2010 Four-Year Graduation Rates 15

Kansas 2010 Five-Year Graduation Rates 16

District__ Four-Year Graduation Rates Insert District and School data here 17

District__ Five-Year Graduation Rates Insert District and School data here 18

Goals & Targets for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)  Goal—80%  Targets— ◦ If rate is 80% or higher, target is 0 ◦ If rate is between 50-79%, target is 3% improvement of prior year’s rate ◦ If rate is less than 50%, target is 5% improvement of prior year’s rate 19

AYP Determinations  For AYP determinations, Kansas will ◦ First look at four-year adjusted cohort  If goal or target is met, made AYP ◦ If goal or target is not met, look at five-year rate  If goal is met, made AYP  For 2011 AYP, the four-year cohort started in  For 2011 AYP, the five-year cohort started in

Difference Between Graduation and Dropout Calculations  The graduation rate is calculated using the four- year adjusted cohort rate.  The dropout rate is calculated annually and reflects the number of seventh– twelfth grade students who drop out in any one school year. 21

Difference Between Graduation and Dropout Rates The dropout rate cannot be the inverse of the graduation rate for two specific reasons:  The dropout rate is calculated using one year of data while the graduation rate is calculated using four years of data.  The dropout rate is calculated on seventh– twelfth grade students while the graduation rate is calculated on ninth-twelfth grade students. 22

Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing -A note from KSDE  Don’t let this federal regulation or your graduation rate keep you from doing what is best for the students.  If they need the extra time in school, give it to them. Don’t be deterred from enrolling students who will not finish in four-years.  We are developing an Early Warning Indicator System to help schools identify students who are off-track for success. 23

Contact Information Insert your contact information here Jessica Noble, Education Program Consultant Kansas State Department of Education