1. Making Your Community “College-Ready” Louise Myrland Director of Scholarship and Evaluation, Denver Scholarship Foundation Michele Scott Taylor Chief Program Officer, College Now Greater Cleveland Steve Thorndill Director of Scholarship Services, College Success Foundation Roslynne Wilson Director of Specialized Programs, Community College of Allegheny County 1

2. Session Overview Discussion and exchange of ideas about: College-going Culture Community Resources Supporting College Success Activity to apply ideas to your community 2

3. College-going Culture What is a college-going culture? What does it look like? 3

4. College-going Culture A college-going culture is an environment in which: All students are expected and prepared to pursue and succeed in postsecondary education Students are inspired to achieve Educators and community members believe and reinforce the idea that all students are capable Information about and support throughout the college process are readily available for students and their families 4

5. Cultivating College-going Culture What steps can your school system and your community take to develop a college-going culture (CGC)? What are you already doing that other communities may want to try? 5

6. Ideas for Cultivating CGC Offer intensive college advising Engage parents in college planning and preparation Offer professional development to involve all school staff in encouraging and supporting students on the path to college Focus on academic preparation 6

7. CGC Tools and Resources What tools are available to help develop a college-going culture? What tools have you found most effective? Suggestions: – CollegeBoard, CollegeEd Creating a College- going Culture Guide: http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ collegeed/collegeEd-create-college-going- culture.pdf http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ collegeed/collegeEd-create-college-going- culture.pdf – Pathways to College Network, College Readiness for All Toolbox: http://toolbox.pathwaystocollege.net/ http://toolbox.pathwaystocollege.net/ 7

8. CGC Framework 8 Source: Pathways to College Network http://toolbox.pathwaystocollege.nethttp://toolbox.pathwaystocollege.net

9. Community Resources Where does your community stand on college readiness resources? What additional resources may be needed? 9

10. Community Resources – Resources Needed How do you identify the resources needed? – Get together interested stakeholders (players) to discuss the situation, what types of resources are now available and what resources may be needed, including 10

11. Community Resources – The Players Who might be the players interested in college readiness in your community? – Schools (representing students, parents, teachers and other staff) – Community organizations – Governments (city, county, state) – Businesses and foundations – Colleges, universities & postsecondary institutions 11

12. Community Resources - Leveraging Can bringing the players together help leverage resources? If yes, what might the players do better together than working alone? – Identifying the needs and numbers of students needing additional college readiness support – Developing a system to help all students succeed – Learning from one another college readiness skills – Identifying and/or applying for funding sources 12

13. Identifying Issues and Developing Initiatives What is an example of identifying a college readiness issue? – Information from the school district that shows that x% of graduating seniors have met district college readiness standards What is an example of college ready initiative? – Increase by 10% per year the % of graduating seniors who are college ready (e.g. increase from 50% in 2013 to 90% in 2016.) 13

14. Community Resources – Developing Systems Where should the “home” to such systems be kept and maintained? For most, probably in the public school district central administration office so that: – Students, parents and teachers can then be regularly informed of status and progress needed – Other players can be informed by the district 14

15. Community Resources – Measuring Results Why is it important to measure the results? – Keep the players informed so they feel their time and commitment is worthwhile – Make sure any “cracks in the system” that are found are filled as soon as possible – May help with case presentations to businesses, foundations etc. who may be willing to provided additional resources (money, employee time, space, event sponsoring etc) 15

16. Community Resources – Maintaining Momentum What things may help your community to maintain momentum on college readiness efforts? – Feedback on progress, including problems encountered and possible solutions – Periodic or annual events that everyone expects and looks forward to occurring – Student success stories – Review expected outcomes/initiatives each year and have the community recommit to next year 16

17. What are the key elements of college readiness? Higher education partners should share college readiness elements with high schools and community groups to ensure first year college students’ success 17

18. Elements of College Readiness Key Cognitive Strategies Key Content Knowledge Academic Behaviors Contextual Skills and Awareness 18

19. Key Cognitive Strategies Developed through planned and practiced behaviors Evaluative thinking, synthesizing, problem solving 19

20. Key Content Knowledge It is dependent on developing and using cognitive strategies Knowledge of skills that are a part of specific school subjects; math, language and science 20

21. Academic Behavior Meta-Cognitive skills and study skills Self awareness Self monitoring Self control 21

22. Contextual Skills and Awareness Being able to adapt and understand the context or climate of the institution Knowledge of the norms, values, conventions, of interactions Human relation skills necessary to cope and adapt to the system College knowledge as to knowing how to apply, enroll and study 22

23. Contact Info Louise Myrland – lmyrland@denverscholarship.org Director of Scholarship and Evaluation Denver Scholarship Foundation lmyrland@denverscholarship.org Michele Scott Taylor – mscotttaylor@collegenowgc.org Chief Program Officer College Now Greater Cleveland mscotttaylor@collegenowgc.org Steve Thorndill – sthorndill@collegesuccessfoundation.org Director of Scholarship Services College Success Foundation sthorndill@collegesuccessfoundation.org Roslynne Wilson – rwilson@ccac.edu Director of Specialized Programs Community College of Allegheny County rwilson@ccac.edu 23