1. Improving Student Transition and Success Across Educational Segments
The Cal-PASS Way

2. Three Goals Basic understanding of Cal-PASS: what we do
Gain awareness of what we
are learning and the solutions we are implementing
How we are working to change the paradigm: deploying technology for end-user work

3. How Education is Supposed to Work
A seamless transition among segments: K-16
Well prepared students moving through a pipeline
Little or no remediation as students transition through the segments
Students prepared with the skills, knowledge and ability to enter the workforce

5. A Matter of Misalignment
According to a recent report issued by the Stanford University Bridge Project:
“…the coursework between high school and college is not connected; students graduate from high school under one set of standards and, three months later, are required to meet a whole new set of standards in college.”

6. Troubling Indicators High HS drop-out rate
Up to 50% in large urban districts
Poor transition rates to college
Of every 100 students that start ninth grade, less than 31 enter college (NCHEMS, 2004)
Significant remediation needs in higher education
70% Community Colleges
Almost 50% in California State Universities
Over 30% in University of California

7. What Created the Disconnect?
The segments grew-up differently
Three separate systems in California (Silo approach)
Different control agencies
Different interest groups
Different goals
Lack of consistent standards across segments
Little/no alignment of curriculum
The media likes to beat up education

8. What is Cal-PASS?
Facilitates collaboration among primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions on a regional basis
Collects actionable data and reports on student transition and success locally and statewide
Engages faculty and other educational leaders across segments in instructional conversations – The PLC model
Implements and evaluates educational innovations throughout the state and works to bring to scale those innovations that demonstrate success

9. Our Mantra
Informed by data, powered by inspiration and developed through collaboration – partners identify problems, develop local solutions and scale them across regions and the state to achieve student success at every level.

10. Cal-PASS Statistics Over 300,000,000 records
Up to 15 years of data in some regions
Over 7,000 schools, colleges and university members
Over 150 research studies conducted in the last two years
Sixty-six Professional Learning Councils (1,200+ faculty)

11. What’s in the Data Set? Data is anonymous Student file Course file
personal identifier information is removed or encrypted
Student file
Demographic information
Attendance
Course file
Enrollment information
Course performance
Student test file
CST (State grade level exams by subject area)
HS Exit Exam
Award file
Diplomas, degrees, certificates
Custom files
Information collected on interventions

12. Action Research Paradigm
Faculty, administrators, and local researchers are active participants
Iterative process to refine analysis
Common questions become standard reports or web based queries
Locally unique questions handled by local researchers with assistance from Cal-PASS staff
Research leads to changes in practice – that is the key!!!
Students at each level should be asked to read a variety of non-fiction texts with a focus on rhetorical analysis.
Students at each level should be required to do research.
In developing common curriculum areas:
Students at each level should examine and use effective structures for writing.
Students at each level should understand contexts and purposes of texts.
Students at each level should be able to demonstrate an understanding of and articulate the argument of a text.

13. An example… Math Transition: Middle School to High School
High School to College/University
College to University

14. First math class attempted in community college
Relation between last math passed at Alpha High School and first math attempted at Beta College
Red = attempted class in college lower than that already passed in high school
Gold = attempted class in college equal to that already passed in high school
Green = attempted class in college higher than that already passed in high school
First math class attempted in community college
Total
Basic Math
Pre-Alg
Beg Alg
Geo
Int Alg
Stats+
Pre-Calc
Calc % N
Max HS math with grade of C or better
11%
14%
41% 1%
28% 5% 0%
100%
730 *
10%
42%
29% 2%
1291 3%
49% 9%
1758
47%
21%
13%
5966
26%
19% 4%
238
38%
2485
48%
585
320
377
2232
101
4824
2743
1775
682
13054

15. First English Class Attempted at Alpha College in Curricular Order
Relationship between the last English class passed at Alpha High School and the first English class attempted at Beta College
Gold = average level of first college English attempted
Green = above the average with at least 10% of the students
Red = below the average with at least 10% of the students
Last High School English Passed
First English Class Attempted at Alpha College in Curricular Order
Level
CBEDS
Basic Skills
Pre-Transfer Level
Transfer Level
Critical Thinking 1
Critical Thinking 2
Total
10th Grade
2101 4%
38%
58% 0% 52
11th Grade
2105
39%
55% 1% 76
12th Grade
2106 5%
37% 2%
753
AP 12th Grade
2171 9%
66%
14%
11% 95 40
340
549 32 15
976

16. Cal-PASS Sponsored Innovations – a Brief List
Math Guides
West Hills Mentoring
EL/ESL Bridge
MoCHA – algebra bridge for chemistry
GCCCD – SDSU Freshman Composition Alignment
ACCESS – alignment 11th thru post-secondary

17. Current Status of Institutional Research
How research inquiry generally works: K-16
Faculty or staff member has an interest
Works with Research Department – if there is one
Interest is turned into a research question
If researcher available – placed in the queue and may get an answer in month or longer
Usually research is a static report and then the inevitable questions come up…
If no researcher available – try to get an answer in another way or give up
“Success at Every Level”

18. Changing the Paradigm: OLAP Demonstration
On-Line Analytical Processing
What is it? OLAP enables users to perform analysis of data in multiple dimensions, thereby providing the insight and understanding they need for better decision making
Enables a wide variety of users access to data
Web-based for easy access
Some training required
Can be applied in a variety of applications

19. Finally – Emerging Areas
Linking to our Employment Development Department
Linking with Child Welfare Data System to track educational outcome of foster youth
Named Perkins IV (career-Tech ed) provider for California
Beginning to scale-up innovations regionally and across the state
“Success at Every Level” 19

20. Questions, Observations…