Improving High School to College Transitions: The Role of P-20 Jennifer Dounay Education Commission of the States For “Bridging the Gap to Promote High School & College Alignment” New England Board of Higher Education Worcester, Massachusetts January 29, 2009

Education Commission of the States About ECS 50-state education compact est’d 1965 Nonpartisan, nonprofit Serves all state-level education policymakers and their staffs: –Governors –Legislators –State board members –State superintendents –SHEEOS and higher education leaders

Education Commission of the States What is P-20? It may include a council It can (and should be) more than a council: –Data systems –Funding mechanisms –Ways of thinking –Public support –Legislation, rulemaking, executive decisionmaking

Education Commission of the States Why P-20?

Education Commission of the States Passing the Buck 4-year institutions 2-year institutions High schools Middle schools Elementary schools Pre-K programs Employers Parents

Education Commission of the States Councils: Method of creation According to ECS P-16/P-20 database ( Govs: 11 states Legislatures: 10 states State boards: 2 states Voluntary efforts: 14 states These have changed over time: GA, IL, MD, NV, others

Education Commission of the States P-16/P-20 council membership Governors (8 councils, with rep. on 19 councils) Legislators (19 states) Chiefs SHEEOs, 2- and 4-year presidents Business and labor Ideally, early learning reps. (18 states) Others Source:

Education Commission of the States Creating a P-16 council just the starting point Some councils leverage little change Essential elements to consider: –Actors –Agenda –Appropriation of resources

Education Commission of the States Actors Goldilocks: Not too big, not too small Early learning Legislative Gubernatorial Business community Clarity re: council mission and roles Meet at least quarterly

Education Commission of the States Meet at least quarterly Reduces inertia, “amnesia” b/w mtgs. Increases urgency of council to-dos 29 states meet at least quarterly Include AZ, CO: states that have made gains in relatively short time

Education Commission of the States Agenda Not too broad (5 issues or fewer) Specific (not “improving student success”) Something each agency can’t do alone Specific, measurable goals (16 states) Balanced scorecard (Georgia)

Education Commission of the States Common areas of activity High school to postsecondary transitions: 26 states (can take many forms) Data systems, use of data: 19 states Teachers: recruitment, preparation, retention, prof. devt.: 19 states Postsec. retention/transfer/completion: 13 states Early learning: 8 states

Education Commission of the States Setting goals Don’t know if you’re getting there if you don’t know where you’re going Numeric goals, based on reliable data 16 states –Most goals re: HS or PS completion

Education Commission of the States Florida’s Next Generation P-20 benchmarks Approved by state board Dec Six “focus areas”, including: –Improve college/career readiness –Expand opps. for PS degrees and certs. –Align resources to strategic goals baseline data Annual perf. measures FY09 to FY15

Education Commission of the States FL benchmarks: Sample view

Education Commission of the States Appropriation of resources Financial resources –Communications can build public support Human resources –Research policy solutions –Support policy/program implementation

Education Commission of the States Financial resources State funds (leg. appropriation or built in agencies’ budgets) – 22 states “Other” funds – 10 states –Foundation –Business –Federal “Sustainability”: NE, WY

Education Commission of the States Human resources Council supported by min..5 FTE: 21 councils Include councils that have made substantial gains

Education Commission of the States Promising practices: HS to PS transitions “Promising,” not “best,” because: Many initiatives new Student data lacking Include: Better alignment of HS exit/college entry courses, standards Better awareness of PS testing expectations Teacher and counselor issues Dual enrollment/early college high schools

Education Commission of the States HS/College course alignment IN, OK, SD, OH*: HS grad reqts. aligned with 4-year admissions reqts. –IN: End-of-course to measure to state expectations TX, others: Rigorous expectations for all MN, RI: Integration of college-ready English and math expectations in HS standards CO, SD, TX: Informing all students of 4-year admissions requirements

Education Commission of the States HS awareness of PS testing expectations ACT (CO, IL, KY, MI, TN, WY), SAT (ME) for all ID spring 2011: ACT, SAT or COMPASS SD, TN, TX: What ACT, SAT scores matter TX: College-ready items in HS tests CO: Backmapping K-12 standards, assts. from “postsecondary ready” def. AR, FL: Let HS students take placement exams

Education Commission of the States Teacher and counselor issues Info on PS placement exams in teacher preservice/inservice (No state doing this?) Explicit training on college prep. in counselor certification, PD programs (No state doing this?) College admissions info in teacher preservice/inservice (CO grant program comes close) Use state policy to ensure counselors spend time on college prep. activities (CO grant program)

Education Commission of the States Dual enrollment No state has “perfect” policy… yet State policy should address: –Off. mandatory or voluntary? –Funding K-12 and PS equitably –Fair student eligibility requirements –Student/parent notification –Instructor, course quality –Institutional reporting –Program evaluation

Education Commission of the States Early college high schools Relatively new approach Early college HS: diploma + AA in 5 yrs. Aimed at at-risk students Emerging research ► positive student outcomes Few in New England? State-level policies in 6 states (CO, MI, NC, PA, TN, TX)

Education Commission of the States ECHS: Model policy components Access and support Instructional and curricular quality Finance and facilities Alignment with 2- and 4-year institutions Program accountability and evaluation ECS state policy database: ECS Oct report: “Improving Outcomes for Traditionally Underserved Students Through Early College High Schools” (search “7863” on

Now for more about the state perspective…