1. Student Achievement Initiative:
Overview and Data Tools
Presented for RPC 2014 Fall Meeting
Darby Kaikkonen, Policy Research Associate, SBCTC

2. What is it?
The Student Achievement Initiative (SAI) is the performance-based funding and accountability system for the WA State Community and Technical College system.
The current funding model awards colleges a share of $4,684,627 in new money (above base allocation), which is a variable pool.

3. 45 Transfer Ready or Workforce credits College Math Retention
What are the “points?”
Basic skills gains
College ready English
College ready Math
First 15 credits
First 30 credits
45 Transfer Ready or Workforce credits
College Math
Retention
Completion
Student Achievement Coding and SA_Revised Data Dictionary

4. How is the funding awarded?
All awards are based on the college’s share of points in a given year within the following three pots:
45% for Total Points (less completions)
45% for Points Per Student
10% for Completions

5. Where is the data?
Database is sent to colleges quarterly with points, demographics, and levels tables
The database is cumulative, meaning it will contain one record for each student with the fields within that record updated to reflect point earning

6. Data Tools Based on SAI
SA Cohorts
Achieving the Dream Evaluation Tool
Measuring Up

7. SA Cohorts
Originated as “GISS,” for the specific use in a workshop with college presidents and trustees in spring of 2011
Is a subset of SAI in that the cohorts include new students in fall quarter only
Sent to colleges as tables within a separate database once a year in late fall
College by system comparison workbook compiled annually and sent to colleges

9. Achieving the Dream Data Tool
A college by college compilation of metrics based on SA Cohorts
Metrics were developed to help AtD colleges identify achievement gaps for interventions and for tracking institutional improvement within the evaluation plan
Updated annually and posted on the state board website under “Achieving the Dream”

11. Measuring Up
The follow-on to GISS, these metrics were developed in summer 2013 for use in a trustee workshop
Basis of metrics followed revised SAI points and focused on basic education for adults transitions, pre-college to college math, and completions by transfer and workforce students

13. Data Uses
SAI Database: Point accumulation, quarterly retention, full analysis of pre-college completion, and year-to-year comparison
Derived Data Tools: System comparison, cohort tracking, evaluation of interventions, core indicators
State board use of data: Common language for framework, metrics within grant activities, identification of leaders for best practices, Achieving the Dream leader colleges

14. Questions?
Question to You: Is there something the state board could be doing better to share these tools and how the data has been used?