Presented by:Wendy L. Ault, Executive Director Tarren Bragdon, Consultant Connect Aspirations to a Plan Bidders’ Conference September 18, 2007

1 % of Adults 25 and Over with a High School Diploma or More Rates of Attainment for a Bachelor’s Degree vs. Rates of Attainment for a High School Diploma Maine’s College Attainment Rates Are Below Expectations, Particularly Given the Performance of New England Peers Source:2005 US Census Data Strategic Development Process

2 The College Degree Premium: $21,000 more per year (75% pay increase) & almost half the unemployment rate The earnings gap based on education status has grown dramatically since 1975 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts Source:PostSecondary.org Unemployment rate by educational level

3 The College Degree Premium in Maine: Young adults in Maine with an Associate or Bachelor’s college degree earn $7,000 to $10,000 more a year than those with only a high school diploma. After twenty years in the workforce, this income gap grows to $12,000 (Associate) to $31,000 (Bachelor’s). Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts Source: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Maine for full- time, year-round workers

4 FAFSA Completion Rate Financial Aid – The Great Equalizer Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts Source:Choy, Susan. Access & Persistence 2002 American Council on Education When academically prepared and taking the necessary steps toward college admission, low-income students enroll at the same high rate as middle-income students

5 Strategic Development Process Two Strategic Focus Areas Were Identified as High Leverage Based on Internal and External Screening Criteria Educational Needs in Maine The Gap to College Support Early Success in College Connect Aspirations to a Plan Phase I: Study of Studies Secondary Research Phase II: Intensive Primary and Secondary Research Decision: 2 Strategic Focus Areas First awards made Summer 2003 Second round of awards made Fall 2005 First awards made Spring 2005 Over a 10-year period, these two focus areas are the core strategy for statewide impact Improve the ability of Maine students from middle school through high school to better understand options for postsecondary study Increase college enrollment of students graduating from Maine high schools Improve the ability of students at Maine colleges to successfully navigate the transition to college, particularly in the first and second years Increase the retention and graduation rates of students at Maine postsecondary institutions

6 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Progress to Date Over $3.4 million in awards since 2003 Impact on Maine High Schools 52 High schools 2 technical centers 29 School-based grants ( , ) 17 Community-based grants ( , ) 1 Transitions-based grants (1-2005) 35% of all Maine high schools, public & private 39% of all Maine high school students reached The most needy Maine high schools and students targeted – MELMAC grantee high schools have an initial lower high school graduation rate and lower college going rate than those Maine high schools not receiving MELMAC grants College Access Transitions, College Access Schools, College Access Communities Maine High School Districts with MELMAC grants 2003 & 2005 Funding for Connect Aspirations to a Plan

7 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Progress to Date Higher Education Enrollment Rates - Classes of MELMAC High Schools **1 grant did not report in 2006 *1 grant did not report in 2005 Since 2003, 674 more students participated in higher education (586 in college) after three years of college access activities at the 51 current MELMAC High Schools

8 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Progress to Date Higher Education Intention and Enrollment Rates Classes of MELMAC High Schools Since 2003, 1,455 students indicated their intent to enroll in college but had not enrolled by the fall following graduation, the so-called “summer melt” (631 with 4-year and 824 with 2-year college intentions) Percent of High School Graduates 4-year colleges 2-year colleges **1 grant did not report in 2006 *1 grant did not report in 2005

9 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Progress to Date 2003 MELMAC High Schools – Summary of Results Average Annual Change in Higher Education Enrollment Rate since of 29 had at least a 5% average annual increase One school did not report 2006 figure.

10 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Progress to Date 2003 High School Grantees Higher Education Enrollment Rates - Classes of **One school did not report 2006 figure. Twelve of 29 High Schools each sent at least 10 additional students onto higher education over the three years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

11 Proven Best Practices of College Access Programs Required for Connect Aspirations to a Plan Grantees Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  No carve-outs – ALL students need assistance  Require data reporting and opportunity for timely data analysis  Fund Grant Coaches – outside the grant - provide technical support and encouragement as well as promote accountability  Engage Parents  College Visits – in-state and out-of-state, small and large campuses, 2-year and 4-year – ideally for all sophomores and juniors  Give PSAT/PLAN to all sophomores – all students “college material”  Give PSAT and/or SAT/ACT to all juniors – all students taking necessary steps to apply to college  Program to ensure successful transition to post-secondary institutions  Summer interviews – during Summer following graduation from high school  College Enrollment survey – conducted in fall after high school graduation; documents the number of students who actually enrolled in college  Host Quarterly Peer Learning Sessions for Grantees

12 New Strategies for 2007 Round of Grantmaking Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  Increased focus on filing the FAFSA and providing financial aid information programs – goal is for all students to be assigned a FAFSA PIN by December 1 and complete the FAFSA by March 1  Prepare students for college with a rigorous curriculum in high school  Promotion of Early College opportunities – increased exposure to opportunities for high school students to take college courses and receive college (and possibly high school) credit  Local match requirement – build sustainability into funding strategy in years three and four to promote sustaining the good work beyond the life of the grant  Data tracking – using online student college search and application assistance product to assist with data tracking and analysis - information in the aggregate can make it hard to understand which particular students need intervention

13 New Strategies for 2007 Round of Grantmaking Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  Increase parental engagement in the college-going process  Annual presentation to local School Board – inform leadership about higher education enrollment  MELMAC U – intensive professional development for planning grant recipients and other grantees

14 Required Activities for 2007 Round of Grantmaking by grade Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts

15 Structure of 2007 Round of Grantmaking Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts

16 Eligible Applicants Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  Any Maine high school, public or private oIncluding any current or former 2003 MELMAC high school grantee  A higher education institution with at least one high school partner  Any Maine non-profit with at least one high school partner  Any Maine civic or community organization with at least one high school partner  Any Maine career and technical center  Please note, an individual high school or career and technical center can only be part of one grant application.

17 Timeline Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts

18 Restrictions Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  The Foundation is open to any proposal meeting the organizational criteria listed and that follows the proposal outline format.  The Foundation generally does not fund capital equipment purchases.  Grant funds cannot be used to finance scholarships or pay existing debts.  A high school can only be part of one proposal submission.

19 Planning Grant Application Overview Due by 5 PM on Friday, September 28, 2007 Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts  Summary form  High School description  Shows demographic and historic enrollment and intent to enroll in college rates  Provide statement of need and why your high school is best equipped to receive a planning grant and why your grant experienced the results it did during the previous grant  Lead organization – description, if applicable  Explain role and commitment of guidance director and school leadership team  If the guidance counselor is not the grant lead, please explain  Planning committee – list ALL members  Commitment to planning process  Provide planning committee meeting dates and times and tentative agenda for each meeting during the entire five month planning process  Coaches – agree to accept coach, paid by the Foundation outside the grant  Budget – show how planning grant will be spent  Attachment – IRS 501(c)3 determination letter, if not public high school  Signatures  If all signatures are not provided, application will not be complete

20 Important Dates for Successful Planning Grant Applicants Connect Aspirations to a Plan – Key Facts