Innovation to Increase Student College Readiness 2011 UPCEA South Regional Conference Destin, FL Dr. Jennifer Gigliotti Executive Director, Center for College Readiness Rice University gigliotti@rice.edu
Topics for Discussion Building K-12 Outreach Programs and Increasing Student College Readiness Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? How can higher ed engage with the K-12 community? Sharing best practices: building a successful K-12 outreach program
What is College Readiness? College readiness means that a student can enter a college classroom, without remediation, and successfully complete entry-level college requirements.
Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? The national perspective The university perspective The individual perspective
Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? The university perspective
Importance of College Readiness Only 45% of students enrolled in post-secondary education nationwide will earn a bachelor s degree. This statistic is largely due to the fact that many students are compelled to take remedial coursework in their first two years.
The Bermuda Triangle noncredit remedial classes Half of all students studying for an associate degree, and one in five of those seeking a bachelor s degree including many who graduated from high school with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, previous research has shown are required to take remedial, or developmental courses, and many of them never move on to credit-bearing courses, much less graduation. Complete College America
Importance of College Readiness Students that are enrolled in remediation courses in their first year of college have only a 17-39% graduation rate. (College Board 2004)
Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? The national perspective
Importance of College Readiness In just ten years, more than 60% of all new jobs will require a college education. Currently only 38% of young adults (ages 25-34) have a college degree. Where will our educated work force come from? Carnevale, T., Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2009. High-growth fields based on national projections of total new and replacement jobs. http://cew.georgetown.edu/research/jobs/79012.html 2 College degree means an associate degree, bachelor s degree, or higher. National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), 2008 (from U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample File.) http://www.higheredinfo.org/
Importance of College Readiness
In Texas, for example, of every 100 students who enrolled in a public college, 79 started at a community college, and only 2 of them earned a two-year degree on time; even after four years, only 7 of them graduated. Of the 21 of those 100 who enrolled at a four-year college, 5 graduated on time; after eight years, only 13 had earned a degree. Complete College America
Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? The individual perspective
Importance of College Readiness According to the College Board, students take on average 6.2 years to complete a 4-year degree (at an average cost of $18,000 per year) often due to remedial coursework.
Why should higher ed be engaged in college readiness initiatives? K12 outreach will strengthen our communities, create a pipeline of college ready students, and can serve as university recruitment tool
How can higher ed engage with the K-12 community? The Rice Model
Importance of College Readiness A study by the U.S. Department of Education found that the rigor of high school course work is more important than parent education level, family income, or race/ethnicity in predicting whether a student will earn a postsecondary degree -- Adelman (1999, 2006).
Importance of College Readiness Rigorous course work in high school, such as AP and IB, better prepares students for post-secondary education and helps ensure that more students will successfully complete their university degrees.
Evolution of the Center for College Readiness Teacher Professional Development Program, established in 1994 AP Summer Institutes, 1994-present IB DP Workshops, 2004-present Program Diversification, 2004-present Targeted Grant Projects National Science Foundation grant, 2004-2007 Freeman Foundation Grant, 2007-2011 Teaching American History Grant, 2009-2012 Customized professional development in response to state and district needs, 2009- present Launch of the Center for College Readiness, 2011
Our mission is to provide development opportunities for teachers, administrators, counselors, and students to deepen their knowledge of academic content and increase their awareness of the importance of college readiness skills.
Our programming is designed with the goal of ensuring students are academically prepared for the rigors of college.
Impact of Center for College Readiness To date, the department has trained more than 33,000 educators and students from all 50 states and 37 countries through a variety of programming that includes professional development for AP, IB, global education, ESL, American history, and student programs.
We believe the cornerstone of college readiness for students is rigorous coursework led by highly trained teachers.
Programming for Teachers Through intensive teacher professional development programming focused on both content and pedagogy, we provide teachers with opportunities to hone their skills in order to better prepare their students for the rigors of their post-secondary education.
Programming for Teachers Advanced Placement Summer Institute Rice s AP Summer Institute has grown to become one of the largest in the country and attracts teachers from across Texas, the United States and other countries.
Programming for Students Development opportunities for students are designed to increase their awareness of the importance of college and to master the skills necessary for their post-secondary success.
Select programs that could be modified to fit local needs and strengths Replicable simply with internal resources and human capital
Rice for High School Students High school students get a taste of college life and can choose from more than 20 Rice University summer school courses offered in a variety of subjects including math, science, English and more.
Rice for High School Students "I found myself pushing my limits and enlarging my capacities I came to know I could thrive in a place where every student is a strong and caring person, a place where everyone knows how to work hard and is not afraid to voice their opinions and share their unique perspective." - 2010 Participant
Global Education Certificate Program The Global Education Certificate program is a two-semester, web-based program designed to provide teachers with a broad field of study that explores the urgent need for global education in schools.
College Readiness Summit Participants obtain valuable information on how to close equity and achievement gaps, the importance of mentorship and leadership, and proven college readiness strategies.
College and Career Counseling 101 Workshop Secondary counselors receive valuable training and insight into the college admissions process, the importance of high school course selection, and tools that will increase college and career success for all students.
Programming that can evolve through relationship building with area school districts
Rela%onship Building: District Level District level: Through interactions at the district level and at professional conferences, we have worked to nurture relationships which have led to customized district professional development and collaborations on state and local grants. For example: Teaching American History grants GEAR UP grants Texas Regional Math/Science Collaborative i3 Grant
Customized District Professional Development We offer customized workshops to increase awareness about the connections between a rigorous curriculum and post-secondary success as well as provide an analysis of district data in order to make informed decisions related to Advanced Placement* and International Baccalaureate programs.
Teaching American History Grant Project The Teaching American History program, funded by a $1 million Department of Education grant, is designed to raise student achievement by improving teacher s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of traditional American history.
C3: Content, College, Careers A program for high school students that provides enrichment courses on communication skills, navigating the college admission and application process, and exploring a variety of career options in the sciences and social sciences.
Relationship Building: Partnerships with Like-Minded Organizations We frequently discuss joint-venture opportunities with likeminded organizations For example: The College Board (national non-profit) AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination (national nonprofit) Houston Rockets AP Exam Prep Event
AP Exam Prep Workshop a collaboration with the Houston Rockets Held at the Toyota Center, 750 students attended the workshop to help prepare them for the upcoming AP exams, and received a ticket to the Rockets basketball game that followed the event.
Relationship Building: University level University level: The training programs for teachers offered at Rice University are unique in that we actively recruit faculty to present content to both middle school and high school teachers. University faculty regularly present sessions during the AP Summer Institute and the AP Academies. Faculty participation helps to build awareness for the value of K-12 outreach programs, and provides a venue for the discussion of college level expectations of incoming students
Challenges to Community Engagement Outreach efforts require more staffing and resources. Involvement by partners during program delivery can be problematic too many cooks in the kitchen Patience, diligence, and understanding are key when working with large public bureaucratic institutions. Put the lawyers in their place don t turn network formation over to 3 rd party professionals
Sharing best practices: Building a Successful K-12 outreach program
Innovation to Increase Student College Readiness 2011 UPCEA South Regional Conference Destin, FL Dr. Jennifer Gigliotti Executive Director, Center for College Readiness Rice University gigliotti@rice.edu