EPAS: Elevating the Postsecondary Aspirations of Students! Using ACTs EPAS Data Effectively Glenn Beer Louisiana Tech University EPAS: Elevating the Postsecondary Aspirations of Students Glenn Beer Louisiana Tech University December 2, 2009 Heather Poole Louisiana Board of Regents December 2, 2009

What is EPAS? Educational Planning and Assessment System EXPLORE TEST: Administered to all 8 th grade students in Louisiana in the fall of each year PLAN TEST: Administered to all 10 th grade students in Louisiana in the fall of each year ACT TEST: Administered to all high school juniors in Louisiana beginning in 2009 *Common Scale Score *Predicts high-stakes test scores

Why Do We All Need EPAS? The Link Between High School Reform and College Access and Success Predictors of College Attendance and Completion: academic preparation, social support, access to information, parental involvement and knowledge about college, and financial aid. Martinez & Klopott, 2005

Why Do We All Need EPAS? Effective use of EPAS data can: Promote Rigor, relevance, and relationships Contribute to a comprehensive program to address the five predictors of college attendance and completion Ensure that all students are college and work ready by the time they graduate from high school

Why Does Louisiana Need EPAS? Louisiana’s projected decline in high school graduates , ,989 (-5.7%) ,984 (-12.2%)

Louisiana’s Efforts to Promote Effective Utilization of EPAS Professional Development for Teachers and Counselors –Project EPAS –Train the Trainer Workshops –Integration of EPAS into Content PD –Professional Development for Guidance Counselors (LA GEAR UP) –Board of Regents workshops, ACT Council, etc. –Integration of EPAS into teacher preparation programs

Louisiana’s Efforts to Promote Effective Utilization of EPAS Educating Students and Parents –Important component of all PD projects School-based efforts to –prepare students in advance of testing –Provide individualized feedback and explanation of test results –Discuss possible interventions –LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camps –P 3 : Preparing Parents for Possibilities

Successful Implementation of EPAS Requires Effective Professional Development Professional Development

Components of Effective PD Immersion in EPAS –College Readiness Standards –Case Studies and Articles –Correlations between EPAS and LEAP Guiding question: How can EPAS data be used to improve student academic achievement?

Components of Effective PD EPAS/Comprehensive Curriculum –Correlation Maps –Integrating EPAS into Teaching –Interpreting Test Data –Data-Driven Decision Making Guiding Question: Are we adequately preparing our students to be college and work ready when they complete high school?

Explore and Plan Reports Provided by ACT A Profile Summary Report, sent to each school and a master copy to the district, includes a variety of reports with EXPLORE and PLAN results: –The first few reports provide a comparison of local student results with national results; –The reports we find MOST useful Roster 1 Early identification Roster 2 Coursework intervention Roster 3 Need for Assistance In addition to individual student report and label (only provided for EXPLORE if ordered), each school is provided with a Master Roster.

New this Year! Item Response Summary Report

Who uses EPAS results? Who uses the EPAS results and WHY? –On-site Curriculum Coordinator –Testing and/or Remediation Coordinator –Counselor –Classroom teacher

Spreading the Word: A New Approach to Statewide PD

Goals Expand access to effective professional development utilizing EPAS data as a tool for school improvement efforts using a web-based delivery system for PD Identify at least one adjunct professor in each school district in Louisiana to facilitate the web- based course Provide training and support for adjunct professors in an effort to reach 1,000 teachers, administrators, and counselors

A True K-16 Partnership ACT –Assists with EPAS training for Adjunct Professors –Provides supplemental resource materials to support professional development courses Louisiana Board of Regents –Assists with EPAS training for Adjunct Professors –Provides funding to support travel expenses associated with EPAS training

A True K-16 Partnership Louisiana Tech University –Develop web-based course offering –Hire up to 68 adjunct faculty to facilitate up to 68 sections of the graduate-level course associated with the PD –Offer tuition scholarships for as many as 1,360 course participants Louisiana School Districts –Identify at least one person within each district to serve as adjunct professor –Recruit participants for each course section

Benefits to Districts Increased awareness of EPAS data as a school improvement tool for all middle and high schools Promote college and career awareness and increased aspirations for participating students Improved SPS Greater K-16 alignment

Who are Adjunct faculty? Adjunct professors must possess a master’s Degree or higher Must provide an official transcript indicating completion of at least 18 hours of graduate work in education Must have the recommendation of the superintendent

Benefits to Adjuncts Deeper awareness/understanding of EPAS Adjunct professorship at a major university can enhance personal resume/vita Additional compensation –Adjuncts are paid $1,750 for each section of the course taught

Responsibilities of Adjuncts Attend initial training (June or July) Recruit at least 15 and no more than 20 students for each section of course offered Complete all required paperwork Collect tuition and application fees Return to Tech for final meeting in August with all paperwork completed Facilitate at least one section of course in Fall 2009

Who should take the course Anyone who is interested in school improvement at the middle and high school levels Teachers, administrators, counselors

Cost of Course $40 graduate school application fee $140 tuition costs not covered by tuition scholarship Who is responsible for payment? –The student –The district may elect to cover the cost of the course through career and tech ed funds or through other professional development funds

Lincoln Parish Map