1. Insider's View of Federal High School Programs:
Market Opportunities and Challenges
An SIIA Webcast
February 19, 2008

2. SIIA Announcements
Making Innovation a Reality: Innovation in Large Companies
SIIA Webcast; March 5, 2 p.m.
SIIA Ed Tech Government Forum:
Today’s Policies Tomorrow’s Education Market
March 12-13, Washington, DC
SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit
May 18-20, San Francisco

3. Improving America’s High Schools
U.S. Department of Education High School Programs
Braden Goetz
Group Leader, High School Programs
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
United States Department of Education

4. High School Programs Group Overview
Advanced Placement Incentive
Increase successful participation of low-income students in AP and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and tests
Professional development
Curriculum alignment
Student academic supports
Online courses
State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), national non-profits with expertise in AP
Middle and high schools with 40% poverty rate
3 year grants; up to $1 million annually

5. High School Programs Group Overview
Advanced Placement Incentive (cont’d)
46 current grants; 387 high schools
35 LEAs, 9 SEAs, 2 non-profits
Approximately $12 million for new awards in 2008
Advanced Placement Test Fee
Pay all or a portion of AP and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees for low-income students
Annual grants to 44 SEAs
Approximately $12 million in new awards in 2008

6. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
Comprehensive School Reform
Quality Initiatives: 6 grants to model developers
National Institute for Direct Instruction
New Mexico Education Network Center
Success for All
School Development Program
National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform
Florida State University
Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement

7. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
School Dropout Prevention
3 year grants to SEAs for intervention and support to schools with high dropout rates
AZ, MN, NH, TX
No new funds since FY 2006
Smaller Learning Communities
Integrate SLCs and personalization strategies with improvements in curriculum & instruction
Focus: preparing all students to succeed in postsecondary education and careers without need for remediation

8. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
Smaller Learning Communities (cont’d)
LEAs only
5 year grants, up to $1.75 million per school
427 current grants; 759 high schools
$88 million in new awards in 2008
Expect 320 applications (largest number since program’s inception)
Searchable database of SLC grant awards:

9. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
Striving Readers
Literacy across the curriculum (all students) and intensive interventions for struggling readers
Randomized controlled trials
Chicago Public Schools (IL)
Danville School District (KY)
Memphis City Schools (TN)
Newark Public Schools (NJ)
Ohio Department of Youth Services
Portland School District (OR)
San Diego Unified School District (CA)
Springfield Public Schools (MA)

10. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
Striving Readers (cont’d)
Year 1 implementation studies: March 2008 (web)
Impact reports (year 1 & 2): Spring 2009
Enhanced Reading Opportunities Study
Supplemental literacy programs for 9th graders reading 2 or more years below grade level
Reading Apprenticeship Academic Literacy
Xtreme Reading
Year 1 results: January 28, 2008
Year 2 results: Summer 2008 (?)

11. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
“Bridging the Divide”
Implications of different state policies for local implementation of dual enrollment programs
State-level policies to ensure credits are portable
Mechanisms to address unexpected policy obstacles
Spring 2008
Data on postsecondary outcomes
Resource guide for LEAs and high schools on collecting and using postsecondary outcome data
Spring 2009

12. High School Programs Group Overview (cont’d)
Improving math instruction in Title I schools
Collaboration with Title I and Math and Science Partnership programs
Goal: all students enter 9th grade ready for algebra
May 2008 meeting
Other projects
Academic Competitiveness Grants
Getting the word out
“Catch-up” math programs for struggling 9th graders
What’s out there?
Improving student success in AP, IB, and dual credit courses in urban districts

13. High School Grant Programs Issues, Observations, Concerns
Most applications are mediocre to poor—and probably don’t merit funding
SLC 2007: 234 eligible applications
38 funded (scored 92+ out of 104)
Another 24 scored between 89 and 91
Average score = 77
API 2006: 117 eligible applications
33 funded (scored equivalent of 90.5)
Another 16 scored between 86 and 90.5
Average score = 72.5

14. High School Grant Programs Issues, Observations, Concerns
Beware (some of) the grant-writers
“Canned” applications (often identical) that do not reflect input or buy-in from district or school
Capacity to implement is limited
SEAs are short-staffed
Communication problems in large LEAs
Frequent turnover of grant managers and school leaders
Understand the problems, not sure of the solutions
Buy-in issues

15. High School Grant Programs Issues, Observations, Concerns
Importance of technical assistance
SLC: 5% of appropriation for national activities and peer review
Outreach and TA to prospective applicants
Transparency
Explain selection criteria and how to prepare a quality application
Need to improve understanding of how best to use grant funds

16. High School Grant Programs Issues, Observations, Concerns
Importance of technical assistance (cont’d)
Development of TA resources for grantees
Example: Tutorials on scheduling, evaluation, other topics
Meetings for district and school-level staff
Promote peer-to-peer TA
Grantees want to talk to and learn from each other
Research
Enhanced Reading Opportunities study
Catch-up math programs

17. Questions?

18. Contact
(202)

19. Director of Education Policy
Further Information
Mark Schneiderman
Director of Education Policy
SIIA 1090 Vermont Ave NW Sixth Floor Washington, DC