BACK ON TRACK TO COLLEGE IN TEXAS Designing schools & programs that recover dropouts and put them on a path to postsecondary success An overview for Texas Dropout Recovery Program grantees’ new staff Rebecca E. Wolfe, Ph. D. December 14, 2011

Who We Are & What We Do JFF overview Technical assistance for TX Dropout Recovery Program grantees 2 Fully 60% of jobs in the United States will require postsecondary education by 2018 (Carnavale, Smith, & Strolh, 2010)

BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off- track/Out-of-school Youth Populations JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice 3

BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off- track/Out-of-school Youth Populations JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice 4

We CAN Improve Outcomes New York City’s Transfer schools have graduation rates one to two times higher than the rest of the district for over-age, under-credited students YouthBuild USA’s Postsecondary Success Initiative schools graduated 71% of their first cohort of students – 90% of whom are older, lower-skilled former dropouts -- and enrolled 51% of those in postsecondary education Chicago’s Youth Connection Charter Schools maintain an 81% average attendance rate (80% of students were formerly chronically truant ); and make, on average, two year gains in reading and math skills each year Texas Dropout Recovery Program Sites collectively produced 1,283 college-ready graduates during the grant’s first two years 5

Back on Track Lessons Learned Age & distance to graduation matters Right design or pathways combination significantly increases positive outcomes Accelerated learning via right combination of academic / social supports  path to postsecondary readiness Partnerships -- with higher ed for college and CBOs for social supports --- are critical 6 The most effective Back on Track schools and programs recognize that… …to successfully transition OT/OSY to postsecondary education

BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off- track/Out-of-school Youth Populations JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice 7

Typical Off-track Populations AGEDISTANCE TO GRADUATION/SKILLS Young & Far GENERAL: Age 16 to 18 at program entry Texas: 17 or younger Enough credits/skill to graduate in two to three years TX: 11 credits or fewer Old & Close Age 18 or olderEnough skills/credits to graduate in one year TX: 12 credits or more Old & Far Age 18 or olderFew credits, two or more years from graduation, at least an eighth grade reading level TX: 11 credits or fewer Old & Very Far Age 18 or olderFew credits, two or more years from graduation, and below eighth grade reading level Over- age, Late Entrant ELLs Age 16 or olderEnglish Language Learners who entered the school system during high school with limited schooling and low literacy in any language

Design Elements: Young and Far School/ Program Design CurriculumPostsecondary/Caree r Connection  Diploma-granting high schools  Full-time, daytime, extended day, and summer programming to accelerate  Organized to facilitate credit accumulation (e.g., modules, project-based learning)  Multi-year sequence of career & postsecondary exploration  Connection to internships & service learning 9

Design Elements: Old and Close School/Program DesignCurriculumPostsecondary/Career Connection  Diploma granting schools or GED programs  Flexible programming that accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready  Interdisciplinary curricula that meets multiple credit requirements and/or  Self-paced academics w/strategic use of on-line courses  Condensed career & postsecondary exploration  Rapid connection to postsecondary programming 10

School Design Elements: Old and Far School/Program DesignCurriculumPostsecondary/Career Connection  GED programs with clear pathways to postsecondary  Flexible programming that accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready  Intensive literacy across the curriculum  Math catch-up  GED-prep coursework accompanied by preparation for credit-bearing postsecondary courses  Clear pathways/interim benchmarks through GED & postsecondary education and training  Career exploratory experiences and in-depth, sector- specific connections 11

School Design Elements: Old and Very Far School/Program DesignCurriculumPostsecondary/Career Connection  Pre-GED program that leads to GED w/clear pathways to postsecondary  Flexible programming accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready  Intensive literacy and math catch-up  Transparent sequence of pre- GED academic skill development followed by GED- prep coursework accompanied by preparation for credit-bearing postsecondary courses  Clear pathways/interim benchmarks toward GED program entry and eventually to postsecondary  Employment- readiness programming  In-depth, sector- specific career experience 12

School Design Elements: Late Entrant ELLs School/Program DesignCurriculumPostsecondary/Career Connection  Pre-GED program leads to GED- granting or diploma- granting programs w/clear pathways to PSE  Flexible programming accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready  Intensive language- acquisition help and acceleration  Focus on intensive literacy across the curriculum  Transparent sequence of pre- GED skill devel. followed by GED- prep w/prep. for credit-bearing PSE courses  Clear pathways/interim benchmarks toward GED program entry and eventually to PSE  Employment- readiness programming  In-depth, sector- specific career experience 13

BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off- track/Out-of-school Youth Populations JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice 14

15 JFF’s Back On Track Three Phase Design KEY FINDINGS Adaptation of research-based work of early college high schools and other innovators in the field Three overlapping phases: ENRICHED PREP, POSTSECONDARY BRIDGING, FIRST- YEAR SUPPORT Intensive, intentional, supported, and accelerated programming “College connected” designs Building transparent and supported pathways into and through postsecondary education

16 Enriched Preparation Integrates high quality college-ready instruction with strong academic and social supports Postsecondary Bridging Builds college-ready skills and provides informed transition counseling First-Year Support Offers appropriate supports in first year to ensure postsecondary persistence and success JFF’s Back On Track Three Phase Design

BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off- track/Out-of-school Youth Populations JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice 17

Implementing the Three Phase Design 18 WEBINAR: Peer Learning Network call: Back on Track Three Phase Model Overview member-pagehttp://backontracktx.org/peer-learning-network/tdrp- member-page **PASSWORD: TDRPnetwork** DESIGN OVERVIEWS KEY ELEMENTS & OPERATIONAL FEATURES (Download PDF) SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL

What are some of the key features of interest on the TX back on track website for TDRP grantees? Resources and Tools Grant and Funding Info. Reports and News items Celebrating Successes Information for Students (and counselors) TDRP Networking 19 Visit the New Website!

Core Program Practices What tools and resources are on the website to assess, support, and improve program practices? Staff Recruitment Course & Curriculum Sequencing College-Ready Instructional Practices Student Recruitment Student Intake Student Engagement and Community-Building Postsecondary Transitions

Grant Mgmt., Policy, & Funding Where can you find information on grant management and tips on how to access policy that helps support your programming?

Questions? Thank you We look forward to working with you!