Measuring Up 2004 Oregon

EXHIBIT A Measuring Up: The Basics Looks at higher education for the entire state, not individual colleges and universities. Focuses on undergraduate education and training beyond high school. Measures “performance,” not “effort.” “Diagnostic” rather than “prescriptive.” New this year: progress over the past decade.

EXHIBIT A Measuring Up: The Basics Six categories of performance (five graded). Grades benchmarked to “best performing” states. Uses nationally comparable data, available from public sources. Uses the most recent data available. –In general, data have a two-year time lag. –Affordability data are one year old.

EXHIBIT A Measuring Up: Graded Categories Preparation: How adequately are students being prepared for education and training beyond high school? Participation: Do state residents enroll in education and training beyond high school? Affordability: How affordable is higher education for students and their families? Completion: Do students make progress toward and complete certificates and degrees in a timely manner? Benefits: What benefits does the state receive as a result of having a more highly-educated population? Learning: What is known about student learning as a result of education and training beyond high school?

EXHIBIT A National Trends: Over the Past Decade Eight states improved substantially in Preparation as well as in Participation. Thirty-six states, including Oregon, improved substantially in Preparation but failed to improve in Participation. Almost all states, including Oregon, have lost ground in Affordability.

EXHIBIT A Over the Past Decade, Oregon Has Slipped in Providing College Opportunities

EXHIBIT A OREGON 2004 Report Card Preparation Participation Affordability Completion Benefits Learning C B- F C B I

EXHIBIT A OREGON Improvement Over Past Decade PreparationParticipationAffordabilityCompletionBenefitsLearning What do the arrows mean? Improved on more than half of the indicators in the category. Improved on some, but no more than half, of the indicators in the category. Declined on every indicator in the category. ?

EXHIBIT A Preparation 2004 Grade Improvement Over Decade C OREGON

EXHIBIT A NATIONAL SNAPSHOT Preparation

EXHIBIT A WESTERN REGION Preparation Oregon’s performance in Preparation is in the middle of the Western states NMNVAZORIDCAHIWYAKWASDNDMTCOUT Western States A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F = 93 and up = = = = = = = = = = = Below 60 Grades

EXHIBIT A STRENGTHS 8th graders perform fairly well on national exams in math, science, and reading. Two-thirds of secondary students taught by qualified teachers. Percentage increased substantially over past decade, surpassing national improvements on this measure. Preparation OREGON

EXHIBIT A STRENGTHS Over past decade, percentage of minority ethnic young adults with high school diploma has increased. However, large gaps remain between educational attainment of whites and minority ethnic groups. Preparation OREGON

EXHIBIT A WEAKNESSES Performance of low-income 8th graders in math only fair. Small proportions of 11th and 12th graders take and score well on Advanced Placement tests and college entrance exams. Preparation OREGON

EXHIBIT A Participation 2004 Grade Improvement Over Decade B- OREGON

EXHIBIT A NATIONAL SNAPSHOT Participation

EXHIBIT A Oregon’s performance in Participation is in the middle of the Western states IDAKWAMTNVUTORHICOWYSDAZNMNDCA Western States Participation WESTERN REGION A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F = 93 and up = = = = = = = = = = = Below 60 Grades

EXHIBIT A Participation WEAKNESSES Over past decade, likelihood of 9th graders enrolling in college within four years declined—one of steepest declines in nation. Decrease due to decline in percentage of students graduating from high school within four years, and decline in percentage of graduates immediately going on to college. Gaps in college participation between whites and minority ethnic groups increased over decade. OREGON

EXHIBIT A 2004 Grade Improvement Over Decade F Affordability OREGON

EXHIBIT A NATIONAL SNAPSHOT Affordability

EXHIBIT A Oregon’s performance in Affordability is among the worst in the West; although, overall performance in the region is poor MTORSDNDAZNVWAWYAKNMCOIDHIUTCA Western States WESTERN REGION Affordability A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F = 93 and up = = = = = = = = = = = Below 60 Grades

EXHIBIT A Affordability WEAKNESSES Net college costs for low- and middle-income students to attend community colleges represent over 40% of annual family income. For same students at public four-year colleges and universities, net costs represent nearly 50% of income. Percentages increased substantially over past decade. OREGON

EXHIBIT A Completion 2004 Grade Improvement Over Decade C OREGON

EXHIBIT A NATIONAL SNAPSHOT Completion

EXHIBIT A Oregon’s performance in Completion is in the middle of the Western states AKNVNMCAORHIMTIDAZCOUTNDSDWYWA Western States WESTERN REGION Completion A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F = 93 and up = = = = = = = = = = = Below 60 Grades

EXHIBIT A STRENGTHS Very large percentage of freshmen return for second year at four-year colleges and universities. Percentage increased slightly over past decade, while nation declined. Large percentage of students at four-year colleges and universities complete bachelor’s degree within six years. Completion OREGON

EXHIBIT A WEAKNESSES Fairly small percentage of first-year students at community colleges return for second year. Completion OREGON

EXHIBIT A Benefits 2004 Grade Improvement Over Decade B OREGON

EXHIBIT A NATIONAL SNAPSHOT Benefits

EXHIBIT A Oregon’s performance in Benefits is in the middle of the Western states WYNVSDIDNDMTNMUTHIORAZAKWACACO Western States 85 WESTERN REGION Benefits A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F = 93 and up = = = = = = = = = = = Below 60 Grades

EXHIBIT A Benefits STRENGTHS High percentage of residents have bachelor’s degree. Percentage increased substantially over past decade, mirroring national increase. However, many residents earned degrees in other states. OREGON

EXHIBIT A Benefits ADDITIONAL INFORMATION If all ethnic groups had same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total personal income in state would be about $1.3 billion higher, and state would realize an estimated $464 million in additional tax revenues. OREGON

EXHIBIT A Forty-five states, including Oregon, receive an Incomplete in Learning because no comparable data exist to allow for meaningful state-by-state comparisons Grade I Learning OREGON

EXHIBIT A Learning NATIONAL SNAPSHOT

EXHIBIT A GRADING LEARNING States with a “plus” grade (IL, KY, NV, OK, SC) participated in a national pilot project on measuring Learning led by the National Forum on College-Level Learning. Learning

EXHIBIT A GRADING LEARNING The pilot project measured the states in terms of: Literacy levels of the state’s residents What are the abilities of the college-educated? Graduates’ readiness for advanced practice How well do colleges and universities enable students to contribute to the workforce? Performance of college graduates How effectively can college graduates communicate and solve problems? Learning

EXHIBIT A Policy Questions OREGON

EXHIBIT A Can Oregon link higher education with K– 12 schools more effectively to improve student preparation for college? Can Oregon increase the number of students who finish high school within four years and enroll in college thereafter? Policy Questions OREGON

EXHIBIT A Can the community colleges in Oregon become more affordable, particularly for low- and middle-income families? Can the state develop financial aid programs targeted to address access and affordability, and to encourage the college enrollment of students from low-income families? Policy Questions OREGON

EXHIBIT A Can Oregon increase the number of students earning a bachelor’s degree, or will the state continue to rely on other states and nations for a more highly educated workforce? Policy Questions OREGON

EXHIBIT A Full State Report: Measuring Up About the Center: The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education For More Information