El Paso Regional Overview

Transcription

1 El Paso Regional Overview Prepared for: February 2011 Boston Geneva Mumbai San Francisco Seattle Washington, DC

2 Executive Summary Executive Summary El Paso El Paso is a geographically isolated, self-contained region. El Paso residents have a lower income than the Texas average and are mainly Hispanic (82%). The student population will grow by 18% in the next 20 years, fueled mainly by Hispanic student growth El Paso has been successful in raising the persistence and success rates of its Hispanic population above Texas average. However, graduation rates are still woefully low for all ethnicities (13%) Despite significant progress in education attainment, El Paso still faces serious challenge in college readiness. Half of students who enroll in its four-year university require developmental coursework a very high number. Among its community college students, almost two-thirds require developmental coursework, but their completion is only slightly lower than those who enter collegeready, indicating that additional challenges beyond academic readiness need to be addressed if the region is to improve its postsecondary outcomes Recent large-scale immigration from troubled Juarez, just across the border, will also stretch El Paso s capacities El Paso is aware of the challenges facing the region and the urgent need for reform. The region has a more than twenty-year long tradition of innovation and collaboration around student success which it can leverage to continue to improve student outcomes. The region s key assets include: o o o A tightly-knit community with a strong sense of urgency about improving education opportunities A group of committed leaders with a long-established willingness and ability to collaborate among its single two and four year IHEs, large high school districts and municipal government Its ability to attract significant philanthropic resources through its commitment to education reform and innovation 2010 FSG 2

3 Regional Context El Paso Is a Geographically Isolated, Self-Contained Region With a Population That Is Over 80% Hispanic The nearest Texas IHE outside of El Paso is located more than 213 miles away, which highlights the isolation of the area Total Population =.8 M (~ 3% of Texas population) At 82%, the Hispanic population in El Paso is more than double the Texas average 24.3 M 0.8 M 13% Juarez New Mexico El Paso New Mexico Texas Border El Paso County Texas Population by Ethnicity 2010 (in thousands) 47% 37% 82% 11% 4% 2% 3% U.S. Border 213 miles Texas El Paso Mexico White Hispanic Other African- American 4 Year University 2 Year College Note: Left Graph: Projected Distribution in Number of Total Texas and El Paso Residents, 2010 (in millions) Source: Texas Data Center, 2008 Population Projections, Migration Scenario 0.5; FSG analysis 2010 FSG 3

4 Regional Context Hispanic Students Make Up 85% of El Paso s Student Population and Will Account for Almost 100% of Student Growth in the Next 20 Years The El Paso student population has the same makeup as the total population 96% of total positive student growth in the next 20 years will come from Hispanics Student Population, Ages 18-24, by Ethnicity 0.1 M 10% 85% 2% 4% M 6% 89% 2% 3% 2030 Growth in Number of El Paso Residents Ages 18-24, ,338 19, White Hispanic African-American Other White Hispanic African American Other Note: Left Graph: Projected Distribution in Number of Total Texas and El Paso Residents, 2010 (in millions) Source: Texas Data Center, 2008 Population Projections, Migration Scenario 0.5; FSG analysis 2010 FSG 4

5 Regional Context Both the White and Hispanic Population in El Paso Earn Less Than the Texas Average for Their Demographic Group $70 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 Median Household Income by Ethnicity (in thousands) ,2 $56 $31 $45 $61 $37 White Hispanic African-American $35 18 The median income 25 years ago was highest in the state because El Paso was a manufacturing hub and that created a huge middle class. Now all those jobs have gone across the border, causing income to drop, and as more immigrants come in, racial poverty increases Regional Education Service Center $0 El Paso Texas Avg El Paso s income ($35,637) is the lowest income among all major Texas regions Notes: (1) Federal poverty level for a 3 person household was $17,600 for 2008, (2) Median Household Income by Ethnicity calculated using the median household income per county and weighting by 2008 county population Source: Left chart, Texas Data Center, 2008 Population Projections, Migration Scenario 0.5; Right chart, 2008 American Community Survey, Texas Data Center; FSG analysis 2010 FSG 5

6 Regional Context El Paso Has Experienced Steady Job Growth With the Highest Growth Industries Requiring a Postsecondary Degree Upper Rio Grande Region Industrial Employment Indices, Note: Data after September 2009 are projected. Sources: Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Note: The Industry Employment Indices Graph includes all counties in the Upper Rio Grande region not just El Paso Source: Window on State Government FSG 6

7 Regional Context The El Paso Economy Will Require An Increase in Workers With Post Secondary Degrees Occupations Adding the Most New Jobs or Growing the Fastest, , El Paso (in thousands) Additional Jobs created 2006 Existing Jobs Kindergarten & Elementary Teachers Registered Nurses Middle & Secondary Teachers Business Operations Specialists, All Other Construction Mgrs Computer Software Engineers The demand for degrees, combined with lagging educational outcomes, presents both a challenge and an incentive for El Paso to continue to innovate in educational reform Source: Texas Workforce Commission as reported in the THECB s 2010 Regional Plan for Texas Higher Education 2010 FSG 7

8 Educational Landscape El Paso Is Geographically Isolated, Making It A Self-Contained Community and Education Environment El Paso has 11 ISDs, 38 High Schools UTEP, EPCC 280 miles El Paso IHE Out of Region IHE 213 miles 88% of all El Paso high school graduates remain in El Paso when enrolling in higher education, the highest proportion in the state Source: THECB High School to College Linkage Data: High School Graduates by County and High School District; Google Maps 2010 FSG 8

9 Educational Landscape The Large Proportion of Hispanic Students in El Paso Has Helped to Create an Environment Where They Can Succeed Above Texas's Averages El Paso lags Texas in high school and postsecondary graduation rates but outperforms in enrollment When looked at by ethnicity, educational outcomes vary, with Hispanics in El Paso outperforming the Texas Hispanic averages FY th Grade Cohort Tracked through FY 2009 Higher Education 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 66% 53% 13% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 64% 57% 18% 55% 46% 6% 66% 53% 13% 0% Total HS Graduate Total Enrolled in TX HE Total TX HE Graduate 0% White (n=1,654) African- American (n=316) Hispanic (n=10,078) HS Graduate Enrolled in HE HE Graduate TX Average Note: n indicates the size of the 7th grade cohort for each ethnicity, Data above is for the Upper Rio Grande Region, of which El Paso county makes up 97% of total population. Source: Texas Higher Education Data, Regional Data for Seventh Grade Cohort and High School to College 2010 FSG 9

10 Educational Landscape El Paso Has Only Two Post Secondary Institutions, Both of Which Graduate Fewer Than 35% of Their Students Four-year Institutions (6-year Graduation Rates) % Hispanic Fall 09 Total UG Enroll. Texas Average 50% 28% UT El Paso 35% 80% 17,202 Two-year Institutions (6-year Graduation Rates) Texas Average 30% 34% El Paso Community College 25% 86% 26,068 Although graduation rates at both institutions are lower than Texas averages, El Paso overall has been able to increase graduation rates by 5% in the past 6 years Note: Data from THECB for Fall enrollment credit students Source: THECB, FSG analysis 2010 FSG 10

11 Educational Landscape Two-Year Enrollment Has Grown at a Slightly Faster Pace than Four-Year Enrollment Two-Year College Enrollment by Ethnicity 1 CAGR Four-Year College Enrollment by Ethnicity 1 CAGR 4% 3% Thousands of Students 25K % 4% 5% Thousands of Students 25K % 7% 4% 0K % 0K % White African American Hispanic Other Growth in both institutions has been fueled primarily by Hispanic enrollment Source: THECB and Institutional Data 2010 FSG 11

12 Challenges Almost Half of El Paso Students Do Not Enroll in PSE Immediately After High School, And Only 1% of These Students Ever Complete a Degree Status of Postsecondary Enrollment After Graduating High School 1 27,438 Probability of Completing Postsecondary Education in 6 Years Did Not Enroll Immediately (n=13,458) High school graduates in this box include both those that attended and never attended a postsecondary institution 49% 1% Enrolled Immediately (n=13,980) 51% 21% Students enrolling in postsecondary immediately after graduating high school are 21 times more likely to complete a degree than those who did not Note: (1) n refers to total number of students for that status of enrollment after graduating from high school Source: THECB data on public high school graduates who earned a degree or certificate in a two-year or four-year institution within six years of high school graduation, for FY 2001, 2002, & FSG 12

13 Challenges Once Enrolled, Over Half of the Students Are Not Academically Prepared for PSE and Require Developmental Education Two- Year Institutions Four- Year Institutions Percent of Students Who Take Dev Ed Fall 2003 Cohort 4,990 Probability of achieving a postsecondary degree within 6 years Percent of Students Who Take Dev Ed Fall 2003 Cohort 2,421 Probability of achieving a postsecondary degree within 6 years With Dev Ed 63% 25% With Dev Ed 49% 30% No Dev Ed 37% 27% No Dev Ed 51% 40% If students need developmental education in reading, writing, and math, their chances of success is low. - Two-Year Institution At El Paso Community College, the small differential in graduation rates between students requiring developmental education and those who don t point to additional challenges to student success beyond academic readiness Source: THECB and Institutional Data, FSG analysis 2010 FSG 13

14 Challenges Academic Readiness, Immigration Patterns and Limited Resources Are Key Challenges that El Paso Needs to Address Challenges Misalignment in College Readiness between K-12 and Postsecondary Recent influx of English Language Learners Limited systemic and financial resources to support student persistence and success Description High percentage of EPCC students (63%) and UTEP students (49%) require developmental education. In particular, the UTEP rate is much higher than Texas average (22%) College readiness levels in Math are the lowest in the state, in particular at EPCC, where only 5% of students were deemed college ready in Math Few resources to fund collaboration on curriculum design There is a large influx of recent immigrants from Juarez (40,000 families) out of which will come a large group of ESL learners 60% of EPCC students have Pell Grants. This funding does not suffice to cover UTEP tuition after transferring 42% of UTEP students have household income less than $20,000; almost all postsecondary dropouts cite financial burden as a cause of their leaving school The low differential (2%) in graduation rates between dev ed and non dev ed students points to challenges in student persistence overall Greater awareness of challenges young people face is important,as I don t think most people have a clue about how difficult it is to be poor in America today, and to have to get a higher education. Four-Year Institution Source: THECB and Institutional Data, FSG analysis and interviews 2010 FSG 14

15 Regional Assets and Opportunities El Paso Has Many Assets That Can Be Built Upon to Address the Challenges It Faces Key Regional Assets Community Wide Collaboration Committed Education Leaders A close community of educators and administrators from K12 and PSE, community activists, and business leaders have worked together in a P16 Collaborative to improve education outcomes over the past 20 years El Paso Community College and UTEP believe themselves to not just be educational institutions but leaders responsible for engaging the community Committed leadership at the one community college system, one 4-year university along with high schools, has allowed alignment of pathways between high school, community college and university Philanthropic Involvement Strong national and state funder presence in El Paso Gates, Lumina, Texas High School Project, Greater Texas Foundation and the Texas Education Agency have funded College Readiness Initiatives, Early College High Schools, Dual Credit Results and learnings from both EPCC and ECHSs in El Paso have been highly publicized nationally, providing El Paso with a spotlight to help attract additional dollars Tight Knit Community Source: FSG analysis and interviews Efforts to improve the education of teachers at UTEP benefited local high schools as UTEP graduates remain in El Paso and become teachers Because El Paso is isolated there is a sense of community involvement and pride which fosters a sense of urgency for improving education outcomes Tracking data and seeing results of interventions is easier given the small size of the education system 2010 FSG 15

16 Regional Assets and Opportunities In 1991, El Paso s Self-Contained Environment Provided a Seeding Ground for Collaboration and Alignment Through a P-16 Collaborative Community Wide Collaboration Challenges Low educational attainment 24% of adult population had less than a 9 th grade education, El Paso lagged behind the state in all levels of educational attainment Many unaligned and unsystematic education quick-fix programs Lack of linkage and alignment between P-12 and higher education Initiatives Teacher and Leadership Prep: camps for teachers and principals to succeed STEM: graduating more UTEP teachers to go back into El Paso high schools P16 Alignment: alignment of math curriculum between high schools and PSEs, Accuplacer testing in junior year College Access: Brought in business leaders to inspire high school students to attend college Results High School Graduation Rates increased from 70% to 78% from 1993 to 2005 Enrollment increased by at EPCC by 92% from 1990 to 2003, at UTEP it increased by 30% Graduation Rates for first time students at EPCC increased from 16% to 30% from 1990 to 2005; at UTEP increased from 27% to 30% The partnership has allowed us to turn the old notion of El Paso is so poor, most families are earning so little, everyone is struggling, these kids aren t interested in college, aren t college material to one with a very drastically positive outlook - El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence The El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence has been able to increase high school student success and PSE enrollment over the past 15 years Source: El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence: History, FSG 16

17 Regional Assets and Opportunities Committed Leadership at PSEs, High Schools, Government Agencies Has Helped to Drive Reform And Innovation in El Paso Committed Education Leaders Key Actors in El Paso Collaboration Founder and Executive Director of El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence UTEP President El Paso Community College President Superintendents of 3 largest El Paso ISDs: El Paso ISD, Ysleta ISD, and Socorro ISD Mayor County Judge Region Education Service Center Leadership Action Founded El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence, which has brought improved educational outcomes EPCC president has brought national funder attention to its innovative college readiness programs, bringing in continued funding to the school That kind of leadership with a message is consistent and clear. We believe in every single student! It s our job to make sure those students are successful! - El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence Everything has to do with leadership. UTEP and EPCC presidents are extremely hands on - Educational Service Center Our leaders, Dr.Natalicio, Dr. Rhodes are very important and have collaborated a lot. We have many good community leaders, which are constantly thinking about this. The city has been heavily involved with this. Institutional Researchers Source: El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence: History, FSG 17

18 Regional Assets and Opportunities El Paso Success Has Attracted National and State Funders Who Have Supported Numerous Initiatives Philanthropic Involvement Philanthropic Funders Lumina Achieving the Dream Gates Developmental Education Initiative Texas High School Project Greater Texas Foundation Texas Education Agency Initiatives Dual Credit Enrollment funding Five Early College High Schools were opened, currently serving over 1200 students in El Paso Developmental Education Initiative a number of different strategies have been put into play which have led to increased college readiness level Results El Paso Early College High Schools have all earned exemplary rating by the TEA and have served as models for other ECHs throughout the country Dual Credit enrollment increased by 119% from 2004 to 2009 We have increased the number of students in dual enrollment. It s important to make sure you have a variety of ways through which students can gain access to college level courses -El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence Since we are one of the first schools to get into Achieving the Dream, we are now a model school for new Achieving the Dream schools. Institutional Researcher Source: Pathways to Success, Richard M. Rhodes, El Paso Community College, March FSG 18

19 Regional Assets and Opportunities Lumina s Achieving the Dream And Gates Developmental Education Initiative Helped Fund the College Readiness Initiative at EPCC Philanthropic Involvement Steps for Reform Outputs High School Summer Bridge Program Dev Ed Require Accuplacer test in junior year Score interpretation and re-testing Require Algebra II proficiency testing Comprehensive student/parent orientation to need for college education Assistance in completing joint UTEP/EPCC application 5 week program after HS graduation Students take pre & post Accuplacer tests Mentors and in-class tutors are provided Teach college success strategies Helps student understand the Accuplacer test, develops personal preparation program and uses computer-assisted modules to refresh basic skills Student take diagnostic test that pinpoints specific problem area The Developmental Program is re-evaluated The Teacher-Student Computer Lab Emporium is pioneered, where students are able to move through developmental education at their own pace Allows students to see if they are college ready or not early on so they can address this All High Schools become Accuplacer testing sites 69% of Students performing in Summer Bridge Program enrolled in EPCC next fall semester. Others passed on to P.R.E.P. program or chose not to enroll 50% of P.R.E.P. students placed one level higher in Dev. Ed. P.R.E.P. awarded Star Award by THECB Math Dev. Ed. is reduced from four to three courses, saving students in developmental education one semester Source: Pathways to Success, Richard M. Rhodes, El Paso Community College, March FSG 19

20 Regional Assets and Opportunities Nationally Funded College Readiness Efforts at EPCC Have Resulted In Students Moving Through Remedial Education More Quickly Philanthropic Involvement Dev. Ed. math completion increased from 61% to 65% Gateway course completion in math increased from 55% to 64% Subject Placement Levels for Incoming Cohort Classes 3,617 19% 4% 29% 48% EPCC has reduced the number of developmental education classes and modularized the dev ed curriculum to move students to higher levels of dev ed and quicker through the entire process 3,714 36% 17% 23% 24% Math 2,411 56% 18% 25% 3,096 42% 43% 14% Reading 2,336 28% 72% 1,163 70% 30% Writing Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 We ve reduced the number of dev. ed. courses. Who said it had to be 2 years of dev ed? P16 Collaborative We are doing everything to make these things into modules, giving support when needed, and moving them through it as quickly as they can. P16 Collaborative Source: Pathways to Success, Richard M. Rhodes, El Paso Community College, March FSG 20

21 Regional Assets and Opportunities El Paso s Self-Contained and Engaged Community Has Fostered Both a Sense of Urgency for Reform and an Effective Way to Train and Retain Talent Tight Knit Community Catalyst Because El Paso is self contained, there is little migration of its residents A large percentage of UTEP education majors at UTEP become teachers at El Paso high schools Action Master of Arts in teaching mathematics and science was created, enhanced and institutionalized. The programs are designed for working teachers and were developed to improve the quality of math and science instruction in area schools Results El Paso high school teachers have gone through and seen the rigor required at the university and are able to expose high school students in their classrooms El Paso is able to train and retain its own talent in its education workforce El Paso really emphasizes on being a community and doing what the community needs and not working in isolation at all. There s a feeling that everyone is a piece of the community, not just its own. Institutional Researcher El Paso is an island out in the ocean. What it calls is to look internally, to do with what we have. A lot of the talent that is developed here, stays here. -Educational Service Center Source: El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence, FSG Analysis 2010 FSG 21

22 Regional Assets and Opportunities A Public Private Partnership Could Help El Paso Better Direct Its Existing Assets to Address Its Critical Gaps Preliminary Opportunities for the Region ILLUSTRATIVE Continue to Address College Readiness Focus on shortening the time spent in developmental education; scale up modular developmental education course systems to all subjects Alignment between K-12 and PSE - Direct additional resources towards teacher, faculty and leadership release time to focus on curriculum design and alignment Scale Up and Sharing of Knowledge from Successful Programs Restructure Financial Support Provide additional funding to scale up Catch-Up programs to improve the college readiness levels of high school graduates before they start college Translate effective practices and learnings from Early College High Schools into the traditional high schools Provide momentum funding for students and schools who are able to achieve momentum points such as developmental education and gatekeeper course completion, 15 and 30 hour completion, and graduation Offer work-study opportunities, especially to immigrant students from Juarez (international students) who are not able to work off-campus Source: FSG analysis and interviews 2010 FSG 22

23 Appendix Appendix 2010 FSG 23

24 Appendix FSG Interviewed 6 Stakeholders in El Paso Name Title Organization Category Interviews with IHEs Dr. Diana Natalicio President UT El Paso Four-Year Institution Dr. Richard M. Rhodes President El Paso Community College Two-Year Institution Interviews with Other Stakeholders Dr. Carol Kay Director - Institutional Research El Paso Community College Institutional Research Dr. Lorenzo García Superintendent El Paso ISD ISD Dr. Susana Navarro Founder and Executive Director El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence P16 Council James R. Vasquez Director Regional Educational Service Center Region 19 (El Paso) Regional Education Service Center 2010 FSG 24