ICN, December 18, 2009

Agenda  DE Updates  January Workshops  AEA Snapshots  Sustaining and Increasing Capacity  Next Steps

The Perfect Storm (In a Good Way)

Connections:  US Department of Education  Race to the Top  Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development  US Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools  National Governor’s Association  Compulsory Attendance Workgroup  GEAR UP

Connections: Race to the Top: Core Education Reform Efforts  Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;  Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;  Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and  Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

Connections: Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development  Network of 10 state departments representing all major public systems that address the needs of 625,000+ children/youth  ICYD statewide Results and Indicators guide coordinated work across state agencies – including Learning Supports  ICYD has identified Graduation as the focus of their work.

ICYD Result Areas All children/youth:  are successful in school  are healthy and socially competent  are prepared for productive adulthood  have the benefit of safe families, schools and communities

ICYD Graduation Goal Result: All Iowa youth will graduate from high school prepared for the next step of becoming productive adults Goals: 1. By 2020 Iowa will increase the graduation rate to 95%. If cohort enrollment remains at approximately 39,000 that would equal approximately 2,000 additional graduates. 2. By 2015, Iowa will decrease the number of annual dropouts by 25%, or 1,100 youth.

ICYD Graduation Goal Additional Measures: 1. Increase the number of students at each high school grade level who are on the trajectory to graduate on time 2. Subpopulation measures of Goals 1 and 3. Decrease the number of youth age who are not in school and not working Target: Underperforming Communities. The ten highest need communities will be selected, identified by relevant criteria (i.e. low graduation rates, high dropout rates).

ICYD Graduation Goal The Action Plan will include a continuum of supports that address the needs of youth that are in school and those that have dropped out of school and are not in a position to graduate in four years.

Connections: US Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools: “Students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe.”  Goal 1: Adopt rigorous standards. Safe Schools: Need School Climate Standards  Goal 2: Recruit and retain effective teachers.  Goal 3: Build data systems. Safe Schools: Measure school climate with the same rigor we measure academic progress  Goal 4: Turn around low-performing schools.

Connections: US Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools: “Students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe.”  Relationships  Safety o Emotional o Physical o Discipline Incidents  Engagement  Physical Environment

Connections: National Governor’s Association Grant To help state teams in up to six states develop state policies and practices that lead to an increase in high school graduates. Action 1: Promote graduation for all. Action 2: Target youth at risk of dropping out. Action 3: Reengage youth who have dropped out of school. Action 4: Provide rigorous, relevant options for earning a high school diploma.

Connections: Compulsory Attendance Workgroup  Iowa Senate File 478: study and develop recommendations to legislature on supports needed if age raised from  Stakeholder workgroup to review issues  Review of other states challenges/benefits  Focus groups across state of students, parents, community members  Recommendations due by January 14

Connections: GEAR UP: Goals  Increase the number of minority and low-income students who graduate from high school prepared to succeed in postsecondary education.  Ensure students master a rigorous college-preparation curriculum and graduate from high school.  Foster a statewide “college-going culture” among low-income, minority and first-generation students and families to increase their knowledge of options, preparation and financing.  Facilitate the development of a more cohesive PreK-16 educational system in terms of curriculum alignment, increased support for student success, access to postsecondary education, securing financial aid and links to economic development.

January 26 th and 27 th Workshops

AEA Site Visits: Ideas and Tools to Share 1. Team Functioning – AEA 1 2. Helping AEAs to Use Data – AEA PBIS and Olweus - Great Prairie 4. Core Curriculum, Outcome 2- AEA 11

Wednesday, February 17, 2010