P-16 Alignment Jennifer Dounay Education Commission of the States ECS Regional Meeting for the Heartland/Midwest Kauffman Foundation Center Kansas City, MO December 9, 2008

Education Commission of the States Objectives of session National perspective on: Creation of, membership on P-16s, P-20s Common challenges councils face State responses to challenges Discussion: What do you see as challenges to P-16, solutions? What’s working, not working? Is there a way to get alignment w/o P-16 council? Ways to assist your state council if not a member?

Education Commission of the States What is P-16? It may include a council It can (and should be) more than a council: –Data systems –Funding mechanisms –Ways of thinking –Public support –Legislation, rulemaking, executive decisionmaking

Education Commission of the States Passing the Buck 4-year institutions 2-year institutions High schools Middle schools Elementary schools Pre-K programs Employers Parents

Education Commission of the States Who’s lobbying for alignment? According to ECS P-16/P-20 database ( Govs: 11 states Legislatures: 10 states State boards: 2 states Voluntary efforts: 14 states These have changed over time: GA, IL, MD, NV, others

Education Commission of the States Who’s on board? Governors (8 councils, w/gov rep on 19 councils) Legislators (19 states) Chiefs SHEEOs, 2-/4-year presidents Business and labor (32 states) Others Ideally, early learning reps (18 states)

Education Commission of the States Creating a P-16 council just the starting point Some councils leverage little change Essential elements to consider: –Actors –Agenda –Appropriation of resources

Education Commission of the States Actors Goldilocks: Not too big, not too small Early learning Legislative Gubernatorial Business community Clarity re: council mission and roles Meet at least quarterly

Education Commission of the States The importance of including the “P” in P-16, P-20 Early years matter for later student success States w/o explicit early learning rep. unlikely to tackle early learning AZ: Early ed. ad hoc committee –Incorporate P-3 into standing committees HI: $10 million, 8-yr. grant

Education Commission of the States Including legislators Helps ensure the right hand knows what left hand is doing Facilitates communication b/w P-12, higher ed. and lawmakers Policy institutionalizes practice Some of the most successful states: IN, AZ*, CO*

Education Commission of the States Including gov’s office Governors hold bully pulpit Gov’s presence sets tone for importance of council’s work Govs on 8 councils Rep. on add’l 19 councils Include AZ, GA, IN, KY, NC, OH, RI –States w/substantial P-16 accomplishments

Education Commission of the States Meet at least quarterly Reduces inertia, “amnesia” b/w mtgs. Increases urgency of council to-dos 29 states meet at least quarterly Include AZ, CO: states that have made gains in relatively short time

Education Commission of the States Agenda Not too broad (5 issues or fewer) Specific (not “improving student success”) Something each agency can’t do alone Specific, measurable goals (16 states) Balanced scorecard (Georgia)

Education Commission of the States Common areas of activity High school to postsecondary transitions: 26 states (can take many forms) Data systems, use of data: 19 states Teachers: recruitment, preparation, retention, prof. devt.: 19 states Postsec. retention/transfer/completion: 13 states Early learning: 8 states

Education Commission of the States Setting goals Don’t know if you’re getting there if you don’t know where you’re going Numeric goals, based on reliable data 16 states –Most goals re: HS or PS completion

Education Commission of the States Georgia’s Balanced Scorecard (

Education Commission of the States Appropriation of resources Financial resources –Communications can build public support Human resources –Research policy solutions –Support policy/program implementation

Education Commission of the States Financial resources State funds (leg. appropriation or built in agencies’ budgets) – 22 states “Other” funds – 10 states –Foundation –Business –Federal “Sustainability”: NE, WY

Education Commission of the States Human resources Council supported by min..5 FTE: 21 councils Include councils that have made substantial gains

Education Commission of the States What we still don’t know Does it matter: –who is lead agency? –which agency staffs the council? –how many FTEs support council? –where council gets its funding? What’s the impact of local/regional P-16 councils?