1 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – An Overview of What We Know Now in Washington State May 11, 2006

2 THE PROBLEM Only 32% of American high school students will graduate with skills they need to succeed in college or work. Only 1/4 th of high school graduates are prepared for college-level classes in English, math, reading and science (ACT) Only ½ half the graduates are prepared for college-level reading and 40 percent for math.

3 OUR GOAL All Students College Ready: Improve graduation and college readiness, especially for low income and minority students  Short-term outcome indicators:  Climate-3 R’s  Attendance  Progression rates  Achievement gains

4 GRANTS OVERVIEW Over $1 Billion in Education to date Major investments in Chicago, New York City, California, Ohio, Texas, and Washington state 1,700 new and re-designed schools in more than 40 states Networks: e.g. New Schools Venture Fund, New Visions, KnowledgeWorks, NCLR, Early College High Schools, others Gates Millennium Scholarships

5 3 LEVEL FOUNDATION STRATEGY States College ready policies Support capacity Districts Alignment and options Effective services Schools New school networks Improvement models Knowledge, evidence & tools Public will & improved public policy, Improvement momentum 80% College Ready Graduation Rate

6 STRUCTURE AND INSTRUCTION Effective Schools  Common Focus  High Expectations  Personalization  Respect and Responsibility  Time to Collaborate  Performance Based  Technology as a Tool Powerful Teaching and Learning Rigor  Conceptual Understanding  Problem Solving or Reasoning  Effective Communication Relevance  Real-world Connections  Student Involvement in Crafting Assignments

7 WEB SOURCES OF REPORTS searchAndEvaluation/ searchAndEvaluation/

8 EVALUATION Launched in Spring 2001 AIR and SRI Mandate: “Tell the story” Three interlocking studies: –Implementation –Student outcomes –System outcomes

9 DATA SOURCES & SAMPLE SIZES ( ) School Type Number in Survey Sample Number in Site Visit Sample Model Schools55 New Schools2926 Schools Not Yet Redesigned 1611 Redesigned Schools2616 Comparison Schools30

10 WASHINGTON STATE ACHIEVERS (WSA) Middle School Early College Awareness High School Improvement Prepares All Students for College College Access & Scholarships All Students College Ready 35+ Middle Schools16 High Schools + Mentoring 500 Scholarship per year + Summer bridge + College mentor

11 SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR ACHIEVERS CANDIDATES AND SCHOLARS College Awareness Curriculum Achievers College Experience (ACE) Higher Education Readiness Opportunity (HERO) Community College Retention Activities College-Readiness Campaign Achievers Scholars Alumni Association Additional Partnerships: WA State Legislation, HEC Board, GEAR-UP and UW Summer Honors Academy

12 IMPROVING WASL READING SCORES: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS 16.8% 12.6%

13 IMPROVING WASL MATH Scores: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS 12.4% 14.0%

14 IMPROVING RIGOR: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

15 “COLLEGE DIRECT” GRADUATES IN ALL ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

16 “COLLEGE DIRECT” GRADUATES IN ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

17 HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE PREPARATION AND ATTENDANCE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN WSA AND NON-WSA SCHOOLS: Initial difference between WSA and Non-WSA schools in 2000 Rates at achiever schools increasing Rates at non- achiever schools stagnant or decreasing

18 KEY FINDING: IMPROVED COLLEGE ENROLLMENT: ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS

19 PROGRESS TO DATE: Increases in percentage of students passing WASL math and reading exams; Increase in number of students graduating with course requirements for admission to Washington four year colleges; Increases in number of students taking the SAT/ACT Increases in students enrolling in four year colleges

WASHINGTON INTEGRATED WORKPLAN Advance the state’s college/work-ready practices and policies  Support district and school improvement focused on the college-and work-ready agenda  Expand the Transition Math Project (TMP)  Utilize research, communications and community outreach efforts Strengthen the state’s support system for low-performing schools and districts  Support OSPI’s district and high school improvement model  Build capacity in Educational Service Districts Strengthen alternative high school models Inform the school finance conversation  Help inform Washington Learns  Look for additional advocates on school finance issues