Getting Our Students To and Through College Student Support Services Office of College and Career Readiness Pittsburgh Public Schools January 6,

Agenda Provide an update on the Whole Child Whole Community Plan’s vision that all students graduate college and career ready Reveal an analysis of the postsecondary outcomes of recent Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) graduates Share current college and career activities and initiatives to boost high school graduation and college persistence 2

Defining College and Career Readiness The content knowledge, skills, habits, and experiences a student must possess to be successful in postsecondary education and economically viable career pathways in a 21 st century economy. 3 Source: The Education Policy Improvement Center and Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

4 A college education is worth more today. There’s a wider earnings gap between college-educated and less-educated Millennials compared with previous generations.

Our Current Outlook 9 th GradeGraduation Enroll In College College Degree ~22 5 (1) Pathways through College (2) Intervention: Early Identification (3) Intervention: College Match (4) Challenges Start Early

6 Pathways Through College 4-Year College 2-Year College 60% Earn a Degree 440 Delayed Enrollers (23%) 30% Earn a Degree 15% Complete a Degree 30% of PPS Grads Earn a Degree w/in 6 Yrs. Not Enrolled 44% of Those Who Enroll Earn a Degree 47% Seamlessly Enroll

To and Through College 9 th GradeGraduation Enroll In College College Degree ~22 7 (2) Intervention: Early identification

Early Identification On-Track Status for 9 th Graders GPAAttendance College Ready ≥ 3.0 AND ≥ 95% Promise- Eligible ≥ 2.5 AND ≥ 90% At-Risk ≥ 2.0 AND ≥ 80% Critical < 2.0OR < 80% 8 9 th Grade On-Track Status *Figure is based on 1 st time 9 th graders from 2005/06 through 2007/08; college persistence is defined as maintaining college enrollment for at least two years * PSSA scores are NOT a good indicator of later success: Of all students that did not graduate high school within 4 years, 42% scored proficient or above on their 8 th grade reading PSSA

Identifying Students Early: The Transition Through 9 th Grade 9 End 8 th Grade End 9 th Grade (2013/14) ~150 of these students won’t show up for school this fall Promise Ready* Graduation Ready ( ≥ 2.5 GPA & ≥ 90% Att) ~ * Readiness indicator absences include excused absences. Promise eligibility criteria do not.

Cumulative Readiness Indicators 10 * Readiness indicator absences include excused absences. Promise eligibility criteria do not.

Student Cohorts by Indicator 11 * Readiness indicator absences include excused absences. Promise eligibility criteria do not.

To and Through College 9 th GradeGraduation Enroll In College College Degree ~22 12 (3) Intervention: College Match

“Low-income students with qualifications similar to their more advantaged peers are less likely to attend college,… and less likely to apply to top-tier institutions.” Students “were more likely to obtain a degree if they attend more selective four-year institutions, even if they were overmatched.” “Nationally, only about 10% of students who initially enroll in public two-year colleges complete a bachelor’s degree within six years.” The odds of finishing a bachelors degree were ~80% lower “if a student with qualifications to attend a selective four-year college attended a two-year college instead.” 13 Matching Students With the Right Colleges Source: Roderick, M., Coca, V., & Nagaoka, J (2011). Potholes on the Road to College High School Effects in Shaping Urban Students' Participation in College Application, Four-year College Enrollment, and College Match. Sociology of Education, 84(3),

College Match 14

To and Through College 9 th GradeGraduation Enroll In College College Degree ~22 15 (4) Challenges Start Early

Ensuring Early Intervention 16 Reading 2Reading 3 Figure includes student receiving a final grade in , , in 2012/13

17 For students who are Below Basic on the 3 rd grade reading PSSA, only 20% achieve Proficiency by 6 th grade. Ensuring for Early Intervention

Recommendations… Motivating Students to Take AP Courses In the last 10 years, the number of unique students enrolled in AP has tripled and total AP slots have quadrupled. Brashear has had a four-fold increase in AP students in the last 5 years. There has been a five- fold increase in African American AP students between 2006 and

Students who graduate with two AP courses are twice as likely to persist in college compared to students with no AP courses. Low GPA students who have taken AP courses are more likely to persist in college than high- GPA students who have not. * Analysis is based on PPS seniors from 2008/09 through 2010/11; College persistence is defined as maintaining college enrollment for at least two years; number of AP courses is based on the students’ full high school transcript Motivating Students to Take AP Courses 19

Expanding the Promise Readiness Corps (PRC) Model Current PRC Schools Allderdice Brashear Carrick Proposed PRC Schools Perry U-Prep Westinghouse

Summary of Recommendations Pre-plan interventions and coordinated support to catch students who are falling off track Intervene to prevent college “under-matching” Explore opportunities to improve degree-completion rates at CCAC Continue to expand enrollment in Advanced Placement courses Expand Promise Readiness Corps model Plan supports for late postsecondary enrollees and mid- year transfers 21

Summary of Recommendations Define college and career readiness indicators for grades K-8 Establish indicators and measures of career readiness to incorporate into the college readiness model 22

Predicting Career Readiness Levers of Persistence PPS graduates complete their postsecondary educational programs, begin careers, and become a mentor to future students. Paying it Forward Leveraged by academic tenacity, academic preparedness, college knowledge, and career maturity. Post- Secondary Persistence Ability to make tentative decisions about careers- based on knowledge, planning, and self-appraisal of abilities. Career Maturity Reflects career choices and education needed. Creating a Plan Connection with a caring adult to provide college and career guidance. Mentoring Participate in job shadowing, work, and internships. Exploration Participate in assessments to inform career interests. Inventory 23