HOW WELL IS NEBRASKA PREPARING ALL STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREERS AND LIFE May 2011

A high school diploma is no longer enough; now, nearly every good job requires some education beyond high school – such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, certificate, license, or completion of an apprenticeship or significant on-the-job training. Far too many students drop out or graduate from high school without the knowledge and skills required for success, closing doors and limiting their post-high school options and opportunities. The best way to prepare students for life after high school is to align K-12 and postsecondary expectations. All students deserve a world- class education that prepares them for college, careers and life. Why College- and Career-Ready Expectations for All? 2

A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS NO LONGER ENOUGH FOR SUCCESS The changing economy is accelerating the expectations gap, as careers increasingly require some education/training beyond high school, and more developed knowledge and skills.

4 Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. et al. (June 2010). Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. ww9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport.pdf Jobs in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Workforce Require More Education and Training

The Rise of Middle-Skill Jobs 5 Source: Holzer, Harry J. and Robert I. Lerman (February 2009). The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs. Brookings Institution. High-skill jobs Occupations in the professional/technical and managerial categories. Often require four-year degrees and above Middle-skill jobs Occupations that include clerical, sales, construction, installation/repair, production, and transportation/material moving. Low-skill jobs Occupations in the service and agricultural categories. Often require some education and training beyond high school (but typically less than a bachelor’s degree), including associate’s degrees, vocational certificates, significant on-the-job training.

Employment Shares by Occupational Skill Level 6 Source: National Skills Coalition (2010). The Bridge to a New Economy: Worker Training Fills the Gap. ; National Skills Coalition (2011). State Middle Skill Fact Sheets.

Demand for Middle-Skill Workers Outpaces Nebraska’s Supply 7 Sources: Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna Desrochers (2003). Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K-12 Reform. Education Testing Services. ; Skills to Compete. National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, analysis of 2009 American Community Survey.  I n 1950, 60% of jobs were classified as unskilled, attainable by young people with high school diplomas or less. Today, less than 20% of jobs are considered to be unskilled.  One result: The demand for middle- and high-skilled workers is outpacing the state’s supply of workers educated and experienced at that level. 79% of Nebraska’s jobs are middle- or high-skill (jobs that require some postsecondary education or training). Yet only 41% of Nebraska’s adults have some postsecondary degree (associate’s or higher).

Education and Training Beyond High School Is Increasingly Being Demanded 8 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Edition.

The Jobs of Tomorrow 9 Source: Milano, Jessica, Bruce Reed & Paul Weinstein Jr. (Sept 2009). A Matter of Degrees: Tomorrow’s Fastest Growing Jobs and Why Community College Graduates Will Get Them. The New Democratic Leadership Council. Nebraska should be preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow, not the jobs of yesterday – or even today. A quarter of American workers are now in jobs not even listed in the Census Bureau’s occupation codes in Given the growth of new job sectors – most notably “green jobs” – it is common sense to provide all students with a strong foundation that keeps all doors open and all opportunities available in the future.

The Public Agrees That Education or Training Beyond High School is Necessary for Future Success 10 To really get ahead in life, a person needs at least some education beyond high school, whether that means university, community college, technical or vocational school. To really get ahead in life, a person needs more than just a high school education. 87% 89% Source: Achieve, Inc. (2010). Achieving the Possible: What Americans Think the College and Career-Ready Agenda.

America’s International Edge is Slipping in Postsecondary Degree Attainment 11 Source: OECD. Education at a Glance (All rates are self-reported.) ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2010_eag-2010-en; National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, analysis of 2009 American Community Survey.

% of Citizens with Postsecondary Degrees Among OECD Countries, by Age Group (2006) ALL (25-64) 1 U.S. (40%)Canada (44%)Canada (54%)Korea (58%)Canada (49%) 2 Canada (40%)Japan (43%)Japan (48%)Canada (56%)Japan (43%) 3 N.Z. (34%)U.S. (40%)Finland (44%)Japan (55%)U.S. (41%) 4 Finland (29%)N.Z. (38%)U.S. (43%)N.Z. (48%)N.Z. (40%) 5 Australia (28%)Finland (37%)Korea (43%)Norway (46%)Finland (37%) 6 Norway (28%)Australia (33%)N.Z. (40%)Ireland (45%)Korea (37%) 7 Switz. (27%)Denmark (32%)Norway (38%)Denmark (43%)Norway (36%) 8 U.K. (27%)Norway (32%)Australia (38%)Belgium (42%)Australia (36%) 9 Sweden (26%)Switz. (31%)Denmark (37%)Australia (42%)Denmark (34%) 10 Neth. (26%)Neth. (31%)Ireland (37%)U.S. (42%)Ireland (34%) 11 Denmark (26%)Iceland (30%)Switz. (36%)Sweden (41%)Switz. (34%) 12 Japan (26%)U.K. (30%)Iceland (36%)France (41%)U.K. (33%) 13 Germany (24%)Belgium (29%)Belgium (35%)Neth. (40%)Belgium (32%) 14 Iceland (24%)Sweden (28%)U.K. (33%)Spain (39%)Neth. (32%) 15 Belgium (22%)Ireland (27%)Sweden (33%)Luxembourg (39%)Sweden (32%) 45-64: Nebraska (38%)Nebraska (45%)Nebraska (43%)Nebraska (41%) America’s International Edge is Slipping in Postsecondary Degree Attainment 12 Source: OECD. Education at a Glance _eag-2010-en ; National Center for Higher Education Management Systems analysis of 2009 American Community Survey.

FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS DROP OUT OR GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL UNPREPARED FOR REAL WORLD CHALLENGES

Of Every th Graders in Nebraska… 14 Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (2008). Student Pipeline - Transition and Completion Rates from 9th Grade to College.

Achievement Remains Low: 8 th Grade Achievement Over Time 15 Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from 8 th Grade Math Nebraska26%35% U.S.21%34% 8 th Grade Reading Nebraskan/a35% U.S.33%32% 8 th Grade Science Nebraska35%n/a U.S.29%30% % At or Above Proficient on 8th Grade NAEP

And Gaps Persist: Nebraska’s 8 th Grade Achievement Gap 16 Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress. Analysis of data downloaded from Subgroup 8 th Grade Math (2009) 8 th Grade Reading (2009) 8 th Grade Science (2009) All Students35% White41%39%n/a Black10%12%n/a Hispanic10%19%n/a Asiann/a American Indiann/a % At or Above Proficient on 8th Grade NAEP

High School Graduation Rates Remain Inequitable in Nebraska 17 Source: Education Week (2007). Graduation in the United States. n/a

America’s International Edge is Slipping in High School Graduation Rates 18 Source: OECD. Education at a Glance (All rates are self-reported) ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2010_eag-2010-en; National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, analysis of 2008 and 2009 American Community Survey.

Enrollment in College Does NOT Equal College Readiness 19 Source: National Center for Education Statistics (2003). Remedial Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions in Fall Percentage of U.S. first-year students in two-year and four-year institutions requiring remediation

Freshmen at Two-Year Colleges are More Likely to Require Remediation 20 Source: National Center for Education Statistics (2003). Remedial Education at Degree- Granting Postsecondary Institutions in Fall 2000.

Many College Students Fail to Return Their Sophomore Year and Go On To Earn Degrees 21 Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (2008). Retention Rates - First-Time College Freshmen Returning Their Second Year ; Graduation Rates.

Many College Students Fail to Earn a Degree in Nebraska 22 Source: NCES. IPEDS Graduation Rate Survey, analyzed by National Center for Management of Higher Education Systems. Percent of students earning a bachelor’s degree within six years in Nebraska, 2007

The Majority of Graduates Would Have Taken Harder Courses, Particularly in Mathematics 23 Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies (2005). Rising to the Challenge: Are High School Graduates Prepared for College and Work? Nebraska, DC: Achieve. Would have taken more challenging courses in at least one area Math Science English Knowing what you know today about the expectations of college/work …

A MORE RIGOROUS & RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WILL OPEN DOORS FOR STUDENTS – AND KEEP THEM OPEN

25 Personal Benefits of Education in Nebraska While there may be jobs available to high school dropouts and graduates, they often pay less and offer less security than jobs held by those with at least some postsecondary experience. The link between educational attainment and gainful employment is clear: More education is associated with higher earnings and higher rates of employment.

26 Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2010). Current Population Survey. Figures are based on the total persons in the civilian labor force. Personal Benefits of Education in Nebraska Nebraska Statistics: Total Unemployment: 6%, Mean Income: $40,982

27 Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. et al. (June 2010). Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport.pdf Analysis based on author’s analysis of March 2008 CPS data. Benefits to Education

28 Source: ACT (2010). ACT 2009 Results. ; College Board. Mean 2010 SAT Scores by State. Nebraska’s Students Taking College Admissions Exams 2010NebraskaU.S. Participation in ACT73%47% Average ACT Score Participation in SAT4%47% Average SAT Score

29 Source: ACT (2010). College Readiness Benchmark Attainment by State. eftnav&utm_medium=web#benchmark Students Meeting College Readiness Benchmark Note: A benchmark score indicates a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses.

30 Source: College Board (2011). AP Report to the Nation. Students Participating in Advanced Placement and Exceeding College and Career Readiness Percent of all 12th Graders Participating in Advanced Placement (2008)

THE SOLUTION: STATE-LED EFFORTS TO CLOSE THE EXPECTATIONS GAP All students deserve a world-class education that prepares them for college, careers and life.

The College- and Career-Ready Agenda 32 Align high school standards with the demands of college and careers. Require students to take a college- and career-ready curriculum to earn a high school diploma. Build college- and career-ready measures into statewide high school assessment systems. Develop reporting and accountability systems that promote college and career readiness.

Nebraska’s Commitment to Closing the Expectations Gap to Date 33 In 2009 Nebraska adopted academic standards in math and English aligned with college- and career-ready expectations. In 2009, Nebraska adopted graduation requirements aligned to the college- and career-ready academic standards for all students. Nebraska’s data system currently satisfies nine essential Data Quality Campaign elements, all except the ability to match K-12 and postsecondary student-level data. Nebraska does plan to build a P- 20 longitudinal data system that matches student-level data across K-12 and postsecondary systems on a regular basis.

How Nebraska Can Continue to Build on its Momentum… …Adopt and realize the promise of the Common Core State Standards by implementing them fully and successfully, taking into consideration the related curricular and policy changes. …Administer assessments to all students that measure college- and career-ready content and can be used by postsecondary institutions to make placement decisions. …Continue to make progress on the state’s data collection efforts, particularly around making student data available to relevant stakeholders and linking K-12 and postsecondary student-level data. …Re-examine the state’s K-12 accountability system to determine how it can reward measures of college and career readiness, in alignment with the state’s standards and course requirements.

HOW WELL IS NEBRASKA PREPARING ALL STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CAREERS AND LIFE May 2011