2.  Goals for the day…. › Information › Partners › Ideas  The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. Diogenes Laertius

3.  A more prepared young adult population  High school graduates ready for the challenges of work or school  An understanding of the importance of post-secondary training  A culture which values education and fosters children’s dreams for the future

4.  Closing the Gaps: › In 2000, this aggressive plan for strengthening Texas’s economic future was put into place › To meet the established goals….  We need 630,000 more students in post- secondary ed  We need 210,000 more degrees and/or certificates More participation and More success by 2015

5.  Why do we need CCRS and to close the gaps? › 46 th ….18-24 year-olds with a high school diploma › 50 th ….25-64 year-olds with a high school diploma › 46 th ….25-64 year-olds with an Associate’s degree › 34 th ….25-64 year-olds with a Bachelor’s or higher › 34 th ….25-64 year-olds with a Graduate or Professional degree  Source: US Census, 2005

6.  The January 2009 report of the Select Commission of Higher Education on Global Competitiveness found the younger population in Texas is less educated. › Only 30.7% of Texans aged 25-34 have an Associate degree or higher › This is down more than 3% points from older population groups

7.  Are we making progress?

8.  To reach established goals, we need 302,000 new students enrolled in post-secondary institutions…by Fall 2008 we were more than 22,000 short  While the numbers of African-American students participating in post-secondary work are exceeding goals, numbers are below goals for White students and far below for Hispanic students  Current targets for degrees and certificates are virtually right on to reach the ambitious goals set  We still fall short on completion in critical fields, however

9.  Educate about cost :  While 65% of parents expect their children to earn a Bachelor’s degree and another 26% expect their child to do some education after high school… › 30% of parents and only 18% of high school students have correct information and understanding of the cost of attending post- secondary institutions

10.  Educate about financing :  Focused information for parents and students about financial aid, tuition, and other monetary issues related to higher education needs to be integrated into our communities and schools….early. › Middle school parent nights › Workshops for 9 th and 10 th graders

11.  Educate about options : › While parents want children to ‘go to college’, many do not fully understand the shift in the global economy which requires training beyond high school for between 70- 80% of all jobs › Students need to comprehend their options and opportunities  Elementary ‘college exploration’ programs  Middle school mentors/ seminars  ISD/IHE partnerships for workshops and work with 9 th graders and parents

12.  Educate with opportunities : › Providing academic rigor through the CCRS, AP courses, and dual credit allows students to feel confident in their readiness and ability to be successful.  College credit options for 11 th and 12 th graders  Study skills training for middle school and 9 th grade  Post-secondary visits for elementary school children  Parent opportunities

13.  Support teachers in the classroom through strong professional development  Participate in vertical alignment efforts in the region  Partner to provide instruction regarding the Cross Disciplinary Standards

14.  None of us can do this alone; a culture is much more broad than an individual school, teacher, or district  Churches, community organizations, elementary through high school, parents, teachers, teams….everyone must work together…fortunately, this is what West Texans do

15.  The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people. The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people. Claiborne Pell  Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. H.G. Wells