2014 Philadelphia Council for College and Career success The Sixth Annual Report to Mayor Michael A. NutteR
Table of contents About the council 04 Preparing for the future The Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success (the Council) works to ensure that Philadelphia s youth become productive citizens who are ready to participate fully in our region s workforce and the life of the city. Moreover, the mission of the Council is to provide leadership and advocacy in support of Mayor Michael A. Nutter s education goals: 06 Making an impact IN 2014 1. Increase the graduation rate to 80% (cut the dropout rate in half) by 2014, and 2. Double the baccalaureate attainment rate of Philadelphians by 2017. Specifically, the Council is charged with envisioning and developing citywide partnerships, strategies and infrastructures to support youth attainment of 21 st century skills and post-secondary education. This is accomplished through the alignment of priorities and resources across various youth development, education and social services efforts. 08 Celebrating success IN 2014 10 Why this work matters 12 Envisioning the Future 14 Council Member organizations Preparing youth for success requires many sectors working in tandem. Through the Council, I see the true impact we can make when we work across sectors and in partnership on behalf of young people. Additionally, the Council functions as the federally mandated Perkins Participatory Planning Committee, through which it examines and oversees all Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming across the School District of Philadelphia. The Council is a standing committee of the Philadelphia Works Board and is convened and supported by the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN). As the contracted YouthWorks Administrator by Philadelphia Works, PYN administers Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding for youth programming on behalf of the Council and Philadelphia Works. Additionally, PYN leverages funding and aligns campaigns and initiatives with the Council s goals and priorities. Jay Spector President & CEO, JEVS Human Services
preparing for the future AS WE CHRONICLE our 2014 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE WILL REINFORCE OUR FIVE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: Graduated within 4 years Graduated within 4, 5 or 6 years * 2006: Project U-Turn launched 53% As members of the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success (the Council), we have spent the past six years dedicating our time, efforts, resources and energy to ensure that Philadelphia s youth become productive citizens who are educated and ready to participate fully in our region s workforce. Collectively, we are tasked with understanding the demands that will be made on the future workforce, what education, skills and knowledge young people need to be equipped with and how we can work together to best prepare them. Over time, this charge has led to six years of meaningful and evolving work in which each Council member has played a pivotal role. This year in particular, our work has changed and grown to meet the needs of the current economy, changing workforce demands and employment realities. Together, we remained committed to ensuring that our strategies are preparing young people for the success we know they can achieve. 57% High School Cohort Graduation Rates for First-time 9th Grade Cohorts 2003-04 through 2010-11 1 (Graduating Classes of 2007 through 2014) 2007: Council established 56% 58% 61% percentage points from 2003-04 cohort 64% 64% 12 10 65% In recent years, Philadelphia public schools have grappled with a devastating fiscal challenge that has forced our schools to operate under a severe budget shortfall. Despite these trying times, we have seen incredible progress and the true impact that we can make as a city. Since 2007, Philadelphia s four-year high school graduation rate has increased by 12 percentage points and the six-year high school graduation rate has increased by 10 percentage points. In addition, we have seen historic increases in investments in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and WorkReady Philadelphia. In this year s report to Mayor Nutter, we are pleased to present these successes and the many others that we have accomplished while working alongside one another. Take a moment to reflect on the data presented in this year s report as we look forward to another year of strong partnership on behalf of Philadelphia s youth. 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2006: Project U-Turn launched 60% 63% 2007: Council established 61% 64% percentage points from 2003-04 cohort 67% 70% 1 2 3 4 5 Creating a citywide system for dropout prevention and re-engagement of disconnected students Aligning and monitoring the city s diverse youth-related funding streams, including youth funds and activities authorized by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Aligning the various resources that support a college-going culture and specifically enhancing the connections and transitions between high school and college Expanding and improving youth workforce development efforts in the city Influencing the design of an enhanced CTE system Data That Drives Us: 16% of youth are unemployed (nationally) 1 in 7 young adults are not in school or working (nationally) 1 in 5 young adults are disconnected (locally) 4 1 Please note that the graduation rates presented in this graph were calculated under the District s old local methodology. This methodology attributes students to the school of 9th grade attendance and does not exclude students who transfer to charter schools. Starting this transitional year, the District is adopting a new graduation rate calculation that by, attributing students to their most recent school of attendance and excluding students who transferred to a charter school, is more closely aligned with the method used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). * The percentages of first-time 9th graders in 2009-10 and 2010-11 who graduated within 4, 5 or 6 years will be available in 2015 and 2016, respectively. the skills gap is growing. as a council, we need to take action.
making an impact IN 2014 6 1 Creating a citywide system for dropout prevention and re-engagement of disconnected students 2 Aligning and monitoring funding streams 3 Aligning resources that support a collegegoing culture 3,360 Multiple Pathways to Graduation seats were secured WORKREADY 2014 FUNDING WIA/TANF $11,361,783 53% Local Public Sector $7,847,673 36% Private Sector $2,395,400 11% Local business and philanthropic support created 1,750 summer work experiences - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - School District of Philadelphia Students Only - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4-year high school graduation rate (First-time 9 th graders of 2010-11) 65% 4, 5 and 6-year high school graduation rate (First-time 9 th graders of 2008-09) 70% of 2013 high school 50% graduates enrolled 78% in college within one year 7% 34% of 2008 high school graduates earned an Associates/ 2-year degree within 6 years 30,000 people served by PhillyGoes2College since 2010 of 2012 high school graduates returned to college for a 2 nd consecutive year of 2008 high school graduates earned a B.A./4-year college degree within 6 years 5,424 Graduation Coaches trained since 2010 4 Expanding and improving youth workforce development 5 Influencing the design of an enhanced Career and technical education (CTE) system 9,953 youth served in WorkReady year-round and summer programs (unduplicated count) 8,195 youth served in WorkReady summer programs $6,390,000 infused into the local economy through youth wages via WorkReady 83% 96% 5,143 youth served through CTE 2,019 certifications earned 114 CTE programs offered 56 unique industry certifications offered of WorkReady summer participants were more interested in furthering their education of In-School Youth model participants were promoted from 11 th to 12 th grade 88% 38% 18 industries Building Sustainability in CTE 46 Increased school-based administrative knowledge and expertise in CTE by enrolling 46 principals in PACTA and Temple University s CTE Director s Program 545 Increased skills and knowledge of CTE teachers and academic core teachers by offering training to 545 teachers 68 Contracted with 68 youth-serving organizations of WorkReady summer participants were more confident in their ability to obtain a job of Out-of-School Youth model participants demonstrated skill gain of one or more Educational Functioning Levels (EFLs) nonprofit 53% public 33% private 14% 89% 76% 2 All-Academy High Schools established of WorkReady summer participants were eligible to receive elective credit (of those who received a grade for the contextual learning component) of WorkReady summer participants showed gains in at least one 21 st century skills area
Celebrating success IN 2014 8 Creating a citywide system for dropout prevention and re-engagement of disconnected students 1 High School Graduation Rates Increase in Philadelphia As the Council continues its efforts to support the Mayor s education goals, it is critical to recognize that Philadelphia saw sizable increases in both the four-year and six-year high school graduation rates. The four-year rate increased to 65 percent, which is 12 percentage points higher than it was in 2007. Additionally, the six-year rate increased to 70 percent, which is 10 percentage points higher than it was in 2007. These improvements underscore the power of collective impact to address these important education goals. Bridge to Success Launches pilot Embedding literacy supports into academic and workforce programming is a core approach of the Council s interventions. The Center for Literacy (CFL), in conjunction with two Accelerated High Schools (AHSs) and Project U-Turn, sought to better address the academic and social readiness of students entering AHSs through launching the Bridge to Success pilot. This pilot supplemented the standard AHS approach to orientation and re-engagement to boost students literacy skills. Bridge to Success was launched in the fall of 2013 and served 72 youth during the 2013-14 school year. Year 2 of the pilot program commenced in September 2014. Accelerated High School Leadership Establishes Community of Practice Recognizing the power of continuous learning, the School District of Philadelphia asked Project U-Turn to undertake an effort to reestablish a Community of Practice among the District s Accelerated High School (AHS) leadership. This group, led by the Mayor s Office of Education and the Philadelphia Youth Network, is working toward improving the provision of schooling across all of the District s alternative settings. The Community of Practice will provide a learning-based environment for AHS providers to share and build upon best practices and to collectively address challenges. America s Promise Alliance Hosts Focus Group with Formerly Disconnected Youth Researchers from the America s Promise Alliance returned to Philadelphia to conduct a follow-up focus group with formerly disconnected youth from the city s E 3 Centers. The focus group examined both barriers and opportunities for re-engagement of youth. Findings were incorporated into the Don t Call Them Dropouts report a study supported by the Center for Promise, a partnership between America s Promise and Tufts University. Aligning AND monitoring funding streams research study highlights barriers for pregnant and parenting teens Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) commissioned a research study to uncover barriers to high school completion among pregnant and parenting teens in Philadelphia s Multiple Pathways to Graduation portfolio. The report was released in April 2014, highlighting the experiences and struggles of parenting students and a series of recommendations for implicated systems and stakeholders to improve outcomes for parenting students in Philadelphia s alternative education programs. 2 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Signed into Law The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law July 22, 2014, replaces the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and represents the first legislative reform in 15 years of the public workforce system. With reauthorization of WIA, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that regulations for the Act will be available for public comment in early spring. The Council, Philadelphia Works Board and citywide partners provided support letters and recommendations for the changing principles outlined in WIOA. Aligning resources that support a college-going culture city of Philadelphia unites for record investments In 2014, the City of Philadelphia and the local business and philanthropic communities gave historic investments to WorkReady Philadelphia. The City of Philadelphia invested more than $7M, including $3.6M from the Department of Human Services, in summer and year-round employment programs. 3 Connect2College Launches to Share Information about College PhillyGoes2College launched Connect2College, which uses multiple platforms to provide vital college access information to Philadelphians. Connect2College utilizes computer labs, mobile texting programs and the Internet to offer free services to assist and promote college access. Expanding and improving youth workforce development efforts Career Exposure Pilot launches for middleschool-age youth 4 5 Through leveraged dollars, the Council piloted the Career Exposure Program under WorkReady to provide 273 middle-school-age youth with opportunities to develop the beginnings of a strong vocational identity, to understand what careers are available in local, high-priority growth industries and to explore what skills and experiences those careers require. In-School and Out-of-School Youth Models Assessed for Strategy Development In January 2014, the Philadelphia Youth Network completed a comprehensive evaluation of WIA-funded In-School Youth and Out-of-School Youth models. The evaluation was overseen by a cross-functional team of WorkReady and Project U-Turn members. Results from the evaluation were used to inform and to strengthen investment strategies and model designs for the upcoming program year. Mayor Michael A. Nutter Creates Youth Safety Taskforce In January, youth representatives from PYN, Youth United for Change and the Mayor s Youth Commission made a presentation to the Mayor on how youth can serve as advocates for youth safety in Philadelphia. Influencing the design of an enhanced CTE system office of career and technical education provides teacher externships The School District of Philadelphia s Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE), with support from WorkReady Philadelphia, launched a Teacher Externship Program Pilot to provide academic and CTE teachers from CTE programs across the school district with an opportunity to observe and interact with professionals in related industry areas. Thirty teachers from six schools were partnered with 10 companies across multiple industries to spend a week observing and engaging in activities to learn how classroom content, competencies and strategies are applied in the workplace.
why this work Matters Collective impact is not new to us in Philadelphia. As Council members, we know that to see success, we need to commit to collaboration, work across sectors and focus on achieving common goals. As we implement our own collective impact work, a strong backbone and leveraged funds play a significant role in our ability to be scalable and flexible in the face of change. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 60 percent of the funds available to support the Council s work will be secured and leveraged by the Philadelphia Youth Network. The Council s Funding Fiscal year 2015 WIA/TANF ($12M) via Philadelphia Works LEVERAGED ($16M) via the Philadelphia Youth Network ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND FUNDS leveraged via Council member organizations This Council and the leaders at the table are all playing pivotal parts in shaping the quality of Philadelphia s future workforce. Daniel K. Fitzpatrick President and CEO of Citizens Bank, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware As we work collectively to grow the resources available, it is inspiring to pause and imagine if we were able to achieve our goals: 1. Increase the graduation rate to 80%, and 2. Double the baccalaureate attainment rate of Philadelphians. The impact would be remarkable. Young people would succeed, communities would thrive, businesses would have a stronger workforce and our economy would improve. Based on the information shared in this report, it is clear to see that when we work collectively, our young people benefit. 10
Envisioning the Future In response to recent data about workforce and education trends, the Council undertook a year-long strategic planning process designed to guide the work moving forward. This process identified five priority areas that will allow the Council to expand its work, serve a wider age range of youth, track progress and further enhance adult practitioner capacity and post-secondary alignment. Based on this effort, the age range of youth we serve will expand to 12-24, and our work will move forward with the following five priority areas: serving middle school youth, developing interventions for youth aged 22-24, aligning post-secondary efforts, developing and aligning strategies to train adult practitioners, and developing a metric to track our workforce-related activities. As we progress, we will continue to ensure citywide alignment with Philadelphia s workforce system coordinated by Philadelphia Works. Middle School Youth Older Youth Post-Secondary alignment Capacity Building Workforce Metric This Council demonstrates that systemic reform and change are possible. It is inspiring to see so many organizations come together and commit to creating a better future for youth. Vanessa Garrett-Harley Commissioner, city of philadelphia department of Human Services 12
council member Organizations * Center for Literacy Citi Foundation Citizens Bank City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services City of Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation City of Philadelphia District Attorney Comcast Corporation Congresso De Latino Unidos District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund Drexel University Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Independence Blue Cross Job Opportunity Investment Network John S. & James L. Knight Foundation Laborers District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia & Vicinity Mayor s Office of Education Pennoni Associates (Board Member) Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools Philadelphia Academies, Inc. Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Philadelphia Education Fund Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Philadelphia Housing Authority Public Citizens for Children & Youth School District of Philadelphia School Reform Commission Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC) U.S. DOL Job Corps United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey University City District University of Pennsylvania Urban Affairs Coalition William Penn Foundation Youth Representative Youth United for Change In order to reach our highest potential, young people like me need support and community leaders to believe in us and show what opportunities are possible through hard work and patience. It s more than just work, it s about building a better life, and a better Philadelphia. Kimberly Pham former youth Participant and current project u-turn collaborative member council Leadership Team Anthony S. Bartolomeo (Presiding Chair) President & CEO, Pennoni Associates Dr. William R. Hite, Jr. Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia Dr. Lori Shorr Chief Education Officer, Mayor s Office of Education *List as of January 2015. For a full list, visit philadelphiacouncil.org. 14
Get Connected To learn more about the Council and its initiatives, visit www.philadelphiacouncil.org.