1. Overview and Findings from Summer 2009 3/17/10

2. A Powerful Network
773 students served in 22 distinct summer transition programs in 2009
6 school districts actively participated
A common focus on high school, college & career readiness for at-risk students
500 students received high school credit for participation

3. Resources Leveraged to Support Programs
36 full-time AmeriCorps/VISTA members
28 Masters students from Marylhurst
Monthly Tri-Met passes and incentives for students
Weekly career & college site visits: 135 visits to 58 businesses and 18 postsecondary institutions; 54 volunteer coaches accompanied students on visits
Total value of in-kind support to programs:
$556,972

4. A data-driven approach
Driven by the Connected by 25 research:
Using academic indicators as early as 8th grade we can target the students most likely to drop out

5. Six districts identified at-risk incoming 9th graders
Common criteria
Failed a core course in 8th grade
Missed more than 15 days
Scored low or very low on 2 or more benchmark tests
1/3 of the entire class met the criteria

6. Whom did we serve?

7. Impact on Students Feeling better prepared for 9th grade
On a program exit survey, students reported that they were:
Feeling better prepared for 9th grade
70% of surveyed students agree or strongly agree.
Feeling more motivated to graduate
78% of surveyed students agree or strongly agree.
Thinking more about their futures
83% of surveyed students agree or strongly agree.
Considering new post high school options
76% of surveyed students agree or strongly agree.
LEGEND: Strongly Agree Agree Sort of Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
N = 221

8. What did we hear from our partner programs?
Participating in Ninth Grade Counts had a positive impact on our programming
95% of partner programs agree or strongly agree.
Enhanced our services to youth
90% of partner programs agree or strongly agree.
Allowed us to serve more students
65% of partner programs agree or strongly agree.
We would participate in the initiative again

9. Importance of Summer Learning
Many people imagine summers as a time of fun, enrichment and new opportunities
Not the reality for many youth

10. Low-income students fall further behind
Middle class students actually gain in reading achievement over the summer
Low-income students lose more than two months of prior progress

11. Students drop out more in the summer
Local Connected by 25 research confirmed that the risk of dropping out spikes dramatically each summer throughout high school