Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY Collaborating to Expand the Pipeline “Let’s Get Real” Presented by: Ed C. Apodaca November 3-5, 2005

“ Closing the Gaps” Projected College Enrollment Growth Projected Growth= 500,000 more students are expected to enrolled in higher education- 200,000 from population growth, and 300,000 from improved participation % 44% 14 % 9% 30% 60% (990,000 students) (1,500,000 students)

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) U. S. Department of Education’s agency responsible for reporting of educational data Ways of measuring dropout rates- ▸ Status dropout rates- provide cumulative data among young adults within a specified age range. ▸ Event dropout rates- describe the proportion of students who leave school each year without completing a high school degree program. ▸ Cohort dropout rates- measure what happens to a cohort of students over a period of time.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) (Status Dropout Rates) U.S. youth ages

Attrition/Dropout Rates in Texas Intercultural Development Research Association (Cohort Rates) Texas Education Agency (Event Rates)

Texas Education Agency (Event Dropout Rates) Class 2003

Who is to Blame for the High Dropout Rates School-related factors: –Over crowded classrooms –Improper/inadequate funding –Grade retention –Altering school policies –Poor curriculum –Lack of engaging teachers –Lack of discipline –School’s size Student-related factors: –Poor academic achievement –Low motivation/truancy –Limited English proficiency –Expectations –Pregnancy/marriage –Drug/Gangs –Learning disabilities –Peer relationships Family-related factors: –Parents’ educational & occupational levels –Mother’s educational background –Student helping to support family –Come from single parent families –Non-English speaking home environment –Ineffective parenting –Lack of interest from parents for education –Mobility Community-related factors –Lack of community support for schools –High incidences of criminal activities –Poor response from court system –Lack of cooperation between schools & community –Low economic level –Teaching vs. Training

What do we know about who drops out and why- Variables Associated with Dropouts –Age... students tend to be older- –Gender... more likely to be male. Females who dropout are often pregnant- –Socioeconomic... come from low-income families- –Ethnicity... likely to be Black, Hispanic or Native American- –Native Language... come from non-English speaking backgrounds- –Region... live in urban settings- –Ability.. scored low on measures of cognitive ability-

High School Dropouts’ Profile The National Center for Educational Statistic found that the majority of dropouts do not fit the at-risk profile- Although the dropout rates of Blacks are 50% higher than those of Whites and Hispanics’ rates are twice those of Blacks.... Two-thirds of all dropouts are White and most dropouts are not from broken homes, not poor, and are not pregnant- Source: National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)

Reasons Given for Dropping out- Texas Education Agency (TEA) ▸ 21.0% poor academic performance- ▸ 8.1% to pursue a job- ▸ 5.4% because of age- ▸ 2.2% to get married- ▸ 2.0% because of pregnancy- ▸.2% expelled and did not return- ▸.2% to join the military- ▸.1% because of drugs- ▸ 60.4% no reasons provided-

Enrollment Trends of Males by Level Source: NCES/2003 data ✔ From 1957 to 1991 females high school graduates- out numbered males- ✔ From 1991, males high school graduates exceeded females 5 out of the last 7 year-

Black Enrollment Trends by Gender and Level Source: NCES/2003 data

Hispanic Enrollment Trends by Gender and Level Source: NCES/2003 data

White Enrollment Trends by Gender and Level Source: NCES/2003 data

U.S. Population in State and Federal Prisons Texas Prisons- ▸ Cost......$1.8 Billion per year ▸ 73 state facilities- (50% built in past 12 yrs) ▸ 164,702 inmates –41% high school dropouts –43% HS diploma/GED –16% some colleg e