THE READY BY 21 CHALLENGE NCSL Legislative Summit: State Policymakers on the forefront of changing the way we do business for youth Elizabeth Gaines, Program Director The Forum for Youth Investment

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The American DREAM All Youth Can be Ready. Every Family and Community Can be Supportive. Each Leader Can Make a Difference.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The American REALITY Too Few Youth are Ready. Only 4 in 10 are doing well. Too Few Families and Communities are Supportive. Fewer than 2 in 5 youth have the supports that they need. Too Few are Trying to Make a Difference.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The American DILEMMA THE GAP BETWEEN VISION AND REALITY HAS TO BE CLOSED At a time when “Failure is NOT an Option” (The Hope Foundation) and “Trying Hard is NOT Good Enough” (Mark Friedman)

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 New Employer Survey Finds Skills in Short Supply On page after page, the answer to the report – Are They Really Ready to Work? was a disturbing “NO.” Employers ranked 20 skill areas in order of importance. The top skills fell into five categories: Professionalism/Work Ethic Teamwork/Collaboration Oral Communications Ethics/Social Responsibility Reading Comprehension

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Employers Find These Skills in Short Supply 7 in 10 employers saw these skills as critical for entry- level high school graduates (8 in 10 as critical for two-year college graduates, more than 9 in 10 as critical for four-year graduates.) Employers reported that 4 in 10 high school graduates were deficient in these areas (Note: Only 1 in 4 of four-year college graduates were highly qualified.)

© The Forum for Youth Investment % are doing well in two life areas and okay in one Productivity: Attend college, work steadily Health: Good health, positive health habits, healthy relationships Connectedness: Volunteer, politically active, active in religious institutions, active in community Too Few Young People are Ready Doing Well 43% Doing Poorly 22% In the Middle 35% 22% are doing poorly in two life areas and not well in any Productivity: High school diploma or less, are unemployed, on welfare Health: Poor health, bad health habits, unsupportive relationships Connectedness: Commit illegal activity once a month Researchers Gambone, Connell & Klem (2002) estimate that only 4 in 10 are doing well in their early 20s.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 We Know What it Takes to Support Development The National Research Council reports that teens need: Physical and Psychological Safety Appropriate Structure Supportive Relationships Opportunities to Belong Positive Social Norms Support for Efficacy and Mattering Opportunities for Skill-Building Integration of Family, School and Community efforts

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Do these Supports Really Make a Difference? Even in Adolescence? ABSOLUTELY SOURCE : Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development Gambone and colleagues show that youth with supportive relationships as they enter high school are 5 times more likely to leave high school “ready” than those with weak relationships…

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 … and those seniors who were “ready” at the end of high school were more than 4 times as likely to be doing well as young adults. Do these Supports Make a Difference in Adulthood? SOURCE: Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a Community Action Framework for Youth Development

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 From 4 in 10 doing well To 7 in 10 doing well Providing These Supports CAN Change the Odds Gambone/Connell’s research suggests that if all young people got the supports they needed in early adolescence, the picture could change…

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The NRC List Physical and Psychological Safety Appropriate Structure Supportive Relationships Opportunities to Belong Positive Social Norms Support for Efficacy and Mattering Opportunities for Skill-Building Integration of Family, School and Community Efforts Basic Services (implied) But a Surprising Percentage of Youth Don’t Receive them… By Any Name SAFE PLACES CARING ADULTS OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OTHERS EFFECTIVE EDUCATION HEALTHY START The Five Promises

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 One Third of 6-17 Year Olds Lack the Supports They Need 50% 37% 13% 6 – 11 Years Old 45% 30% 25% 12 – 17 Years Old According to the America’s Promise Alliance National Promises Survey, only 31% of 6-17 year olds have at least 4 of the 5 promises. 21% have 1 or none. The likelihood of having sufficient supports decreases with age: 37% of 6-11 year olds have at least 4 promises; 13% have 1 or none. Only 30% of year olds have at least 4; 25% have 1 or none.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Supports Youth Need to Enter College? Accelerated Instruction Align high school curricula with college and work standards Begin this in 9 th grade or earlier High Expectations Give every student options and skills to engage in life long learning Clear, consistent expectations with a plan Accurate Information Reduce counselor caseloads Clear communication about financial aid Financial Support Financial aid is a necessity for most college goers Employment Make employment accessible to college students Alternative Pathways Alternate methods to obtain credits (alternative high schools, outside the classroom, etc)

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 State Examples UT- stipends for supplemental instruction NH- tutoring, study skills training and mentors AR- aligning high school standards with college and work requirements FL- preparing disadvantaged youth to complete post secondary education OK- making tuition accessible to low income families IN- alternate ways to access high school credits

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Supports Youth Need to Enter and Succeed in the Workforce? Building a Broader Skill Set Opportunities to Assess Youth Skills Skill-Based Certificates and Credits that Demonstrate Work Readiness Appropriate Early Work Exposure

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 State Examples Providing Youth with 21 st Century Skills CA, IN, NE,NY, WY have collaborated with business and higher educ. to align high school standards with workforce skill demands 22 states collaborating with Achieve, Inc to begin to align skills Assessing Workforce Readiness IN, NY, NC, OK hold high schools accountable for improving the college and work readiness of students. Expanding Pathways to Work CA’s Dept of Educ. has instituted the Diploma Plus program which blends high school courses, college courses, internships and community service Increasing Work Opportunities MI provides tax credits to employers that employ students part time

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Civic Social Emotional Physical Vocational Cognitive Ages Times of Day Outcome Areas ? ? ? The Challenge for All Community Stakeholders: To Fill the Developmental White Space Morning... Night School After School At its best, school only fills a portion of developmental space

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Who is Responsible for the Rest? Families Peer Groups Schools and Training Organizations Higher Education Youth-Serving Organizations CBOs (Non-Profit Service Providers and Associations) Businesses (Jobs, Internships and Apprenticeships) Faith-Based Organizations Libraries, Parks, and Recreation Departments Community-Based Health and Social Service Agencies ?

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Fostering Initiative: All Settings have Equal Potential, All Do Not Currently Deliver

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Social & Emotional Health Core Supports & Opportunities Delinquency & Violence Pregnancy & HIV/AIDS Dropouts & Illiteracy Unemployment Substance Abuse, Suicide, Depression Civic Engagement Educational Attainment Physical Health Vocational Readiness & Success Even the Smallest Communities have Too Many Initiatives

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 SOURCE: Margaret Dunkle … See a Problem, Convene a Task Force, Create a Program… Has Created a Tangle of Inefficiencies Children’s Services in Los Angeles County

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 The Ready By 21 Challenge: Changing the Odds for Youth By Changing the Way We Do Business

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Take Aim on the Big Picture How are Young People Doing? Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING Define desired goals/results Select indicators

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Take Stock of the Big Picture Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Pre–K 0–5 Children 6–12 Youth 13–19 Young Adults 20–24 Families and Communities Ready for College Cognitive/ academic development Ready for Work Vocational development Ready for Life Physical development Social/ emotional development Civic and cultural development Children Enter School Ready to Learn Traditional Approach: Pick One Area

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 But What Happened to the Rest of the Picture? Pre–K 0–5 Children 6–12 Youth 13–19 Young Adults 20–24 Families and Communities Ready for College Cognitive/ academic development Ready for Work Vocational development Ready for Life Physical development Social/ emotional development Civic and cultural development Children Enter School Ready to Learn

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Alternative: Learning to Focus Differently Shifting Red to Yellow, Yellow to Green Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 Institutes, Trainings and Webinars In-Person Convenings: Introductory Institutes. Learn the Ready by 21 Approach and become a change maker. Training of Trainers. Advanced training for change makers to lead a coalition through the Ready by 21 Challenge. Ready By 21 Webinars: The Ready by 21 Approach. Learn to use the tools and further your big picture work. Exploring the Blueprint for Action. Hear stories of places taking action on the blueprint in its entirety and go in depth into its components. Engaging Stakeholders. Hear from the National Partners how best to engage their members including: policymakers, funders, businesses, advocates, educators and others.

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 States taking action for youth Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 States taking action for youth Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING

© The Forum for Youth Investment 2008 States taking action for youth Pre-K 0–5 School- Age 6–10 Middle School 11–14 High School 15–18 Young Adults 19–21+ Ready for College LEARNING Ready for Work WORKING Ready for Life THRIVING CONNECTING LEADING