creating a high school diploma that counts: what should higher education do? sheeo annual meeting...

Creating a High School Diploma That Counts: What Should

Higher Education Do?

SHEEO Annual MeetingJuly 21, 2006

2AMERICAN DIPLOMA PROJECT NETWORK

Too Many Students Graduate from High School Unprepared for College and Work

30% of first year students in postsecondary education are required to take remedial courses

40% - 45% of recent high school graduates report significant gaps in their skills, both in college and the workplace

Faculty estimate 42% of first year students in credit-bearing courses are academically unprepared

Employers estimate 45% of recent high school graduates lack skills to advance

ACT estimates only half of college-bound students are ready for college-level reading


College Ready = Work Ready

ADP research found a common core of knowledge & skills in math and English that are necessary for success in postsecondary education and in “good jobs”.

ACT Study Ready for College Ready for Work: Same or Different?: whether planning to enter college or workforce training

programs after graduation, high school students need to be educated to a comparable level of readiness in reading and mathematics.


An Expectations Gap

We haven’t expected all students to graduate from high school college- and work-ready

State standards reflect consensus about what is desirable, not what is essential

Only 2 states required algebra II for graduation State tests measure 8th and 9th grade knowledge and

skills High school accountability rarely focuses on

graduation rates or on college- and work-readiness


ADP Policy Agenda: Closing the Expectations Gap

Align high school standards with college and work expectations.

Require all students to take more challenging college- and work-prep courses aligned with standards.

Include “college-ready” test, aligned with state standards, in high school assessment system.

Hold high schools accountable for graduating students college- and work-ready, and hold postsecondary institutions accountable for student success.


American Diploma Project Network

WA

OR

CA

AK

NV

MT

ID

CO

NMAZ

UT

TX

OK

KS MO

IANE

WY

INIL

WIMN

ND

SD

OHPA

NY

VT

HI

MDDENJ

NHMARICT

LA

MS AL GA

FL

SC

NCTN

AR

KYVA

ME

MI

WV


Progress since the 2005 National Education Summit

Source: Achieve Survey/Research, 2006.


What Must Higher Education Do?

To align high school standards with college and workplace expectations, higher education must:

Be Transparent – Provide a clear definition of the knowledge and skills needed to enter and succeed in college level courses.

Speak with one voice – Adopt uniform placement standards statewide, especially for open door and broad access institutions.



To include a college-ready test in high school assessment system:

Insist that any test for placement purposes be aligned with state college-ready standards

Don’t rush to use admissions tests Support the use of end-of-course exams – they can

provide information needed for placement and improve college preparation by supporting rigorous teaching

Consider ADP Algebra II exam



To ensure students take a college-prep curriculum, higher education should:

Actively support state and local efforts to raise high school graduation requirements

Align admissions requirements with new high school graduation requirements

Help college faculty work with high school faculty to develop high quality, rigorous high school courses that will really prepare students for college level work



To ensure high schools are held accountable for increasing high school graduation rate and for increasing number of students who meet college-ready standards, higher education must:

Help build P-16 longitudinal data system Provide specific feedback to high schools on the

performance of their graduates Help build capacity for intervening in low

performing high schools


ADP Tools and Support

College- and Work-Ready benchmark expectations in math and ELA

College – and Work-Ready standards in math and ELA in 18 states within 12 months

End-of-course exam in Algebra II for 2007 – 2008 school year in 9-10 states Can be used for postsecondary placement

Identifying Potential Dropouts: Key Lessons for Building an Early Warning Data System

Study of What College Admissions and Placement Exams Really Measure

Creating a High School Diploma That Counts: What Should

Higher Education Do?

SHEEO Annual MeetingJuly 21, 2006


For more information,please visit Achieve, Inc. on the

web at

http://www.achieve.org/

creating a high school diploma that counts: what should higher education do? sheeo annual meeting...

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