Putting It All TogetherOffice of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)

Washington, DC

Introduction to OSSEOffice of the State

Superintendent of Education

• The State Education Agency for Washington, DC

• Oversees public and charter schools in the District of Columbia

• Serves at the District’s liaison to the Federal Department of Education

Division of Postsecondary & Career Education

• Manages the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG)

• Develops and manages programs that target college and career preparation, enrollment, and persistence

• Oversees policy development related to college and career education for DC

Think about your own experience…• How did you choose a college? What advice

did you follow? What information did you use?

• What helped make you successful in your first two years of college?

AGENDA:• DC Education Overview• Theory of Change• Matching & Smart College

Choices• College Retention Initiative• Discussion & Questions

DC Education Snapshot• Includes 217 schools in 61 LEAs attended

by 88,005 students• Total number of public school students:

– DC Public Schools: 49,688 – Charter Schools: 38,104

• 72% qualify for Free and Reduced Meals• 54% “proficient” DC CAS Math (2014)• 50% “proficient” DC CAS Reading (2014)• State graduation rate of 64.5% (2013)

College Counseling in DC• 36 high schools between DCPS and charter• Average student to counselor estimated 205:1• DC College Access Program (DC CAP) has full

or part-time college advisors in all high schools

• An additional 20+ community-based college access organizations serve DC students

• Public higher education institutions in DC = University of the District of Columbia

High School Graduation

Source: OSSE

Postsecondary Enrollment

Source: OSSE & the National Student Clearinghouse

Postsecondary Completion

Source: OSSE & the National Student Clearinghouse

College Persistence & Transfer

Theory of Change1. Prepare all students for postsecondary2. Help families make smart and informed

choice of postsecondary pathway3. Improve persistence of students through the

first two years of college/credential program

Increased college and credential completion

Make Data Friendly• Top DC TAG institutions

by attendance and first-year retention

• Share information with DC CAP and other advisors

• Currently developing online high school-level profiles with college enrollment and completion

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Target Undermatching• College Conversations

– Academically strong students involved in early college initiatives

– Year 1: 20 institutions and 75+ students– Year 2: 21 institutions and 90+ students

• College Expo and Decision Day– Invite Smart College Choice institutions, career

programs, and others– One-on-one college and career counseling– 2015: Decision Week in May

Student and College Rep at College Conversations

Train & Equip College Advisors

• District-wide needs assessment informs counselor and CBO professional development series– Sample topics: crash-course

SAT prep, managing the application process, advising for students with special needs, essay writing

Education Advisory Board Tools• Analysis of current and historical DC educational

records matched with national data• College Report Generator provides DC-specific

information about grad rates and transfer pathways

OSSE College Retention Initiative (CRI)

The Big Picture• The vision of OSSE is that all District residents

receive and excellent education. • DC TAG program• The Birth of CRI

Why CRI?• Poor College Choice• College Readiness• Remedial Courses

6 Year DC TAG Graduation RatesPartner University 2005/06 DCTAG

Cohort2006/07 DCTAG

Cohort

Bowie State University 25% 41%

*Delaware State University 37% 38%

Norfolk State University 31% 26%

*North Carolina A&T State University

43% 45%

University of Maryland – EasternShore

34% 34%

*Morgan State University 33% 52%

Institutions among DCTAG Top 20 Institutions, most attended by DCTAG students.Source DCTAG Graduation Rates: National Student Clearing House and DC Oneapp data repositorySource Overall Graduation Rates: College Results Online*represents the original cohort institutions.

Student Challenges• Cognitive skills:

– ability to apply new knowledge in other situations. Being able to synthesize learned information and apply it in new ways

• Soft skills: – understanding the written and unwritten rules and customs of any

environment. Being able to assimilate without losing your authenticity. Cultural differences.

• Economics: – how is the experience of college going to affect my bottom line (being able

to pay for college, how much money can I make with my degree)?

• Family ties: – a first generation college student? Which members of my family can relate

to my college experiences? How much do I share with family about my struggles and achievements in college?

The Perfect Ingredients • College Choice• University Liaison• Mentors• Graduation Rates• Student Support Services

CRI• 2012 cohort of students are now Juniors

– Retained 77.4% of our CRI cohort– Too early for graduation rates as we continue to

track their progress. – Class of 2018 (2017/18 academic year)

• Retain, Persist and Graduate• Develop guidance through a comprehensive

manual

Original Cohort

• August 2012 Launch • Starting with 3 Universities

– Delaware State University– Morgan State University*– North Carolina A&T State University

• 106 Mentees• 15 Mentors

Today’s Cohort• 2013/14 & 2014/15 mentees• Academic year 2013/14 added 2 new partner

universities– Bowie State University– Norfolk State University

• Academic year 2014/15 added 1 new partner university– University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• 220 Mentees/ students• 26 Mentors

University Partners• Bowie State University

• Delaware State University

• Norfolk State University

• North Carolina A&T State University

• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

CRI Structure• University Partner• University Liaison• Site Manager• Mentor• Mentee

CRI Slice of the PieCRI Program

University PartnerUniversity Liaison Site ManagerMentor

MENTEES

Partners• POSSE Foundation

• College is Cool

• Partnering Universities

University Liaison• Point person who will act as support for the

program

• The role may be different at each university

• Key resource; finding meeting space, and/or assisting with financial resources and receiving grades that are not “self reported”

Mentors• Junior or Senior • 2 year commitment• Campus Leader• District of Columbia Student (DCTAG

Recipient)

Qualities of Successful Mentors• Be Mature

• Like working with others

• Open to diversity and diverse views

• A good listener

Mentor Duties• 2-day Training

• Group Meeting (once per month)

• Bi-weekly Individual Meeting

• Weekly Mentor Site Manger Phone Call

• End of Semester Report

Reporting Data

• Scribe– One place to capture data– Develop reports

Mentor Payment

• Academic year stipend – $2,000 per student mentor

• $250.00 for summer training– $750.00 for Fall Semester

» $,1,000.00 for Spring Semester

Bowie State University• Mentees = 30• Mentors = 4• 8:1 ratio

Delaware State University• Mentees = 110• Mentors = 10• 8:1 ratio

Norfolk State University• Mentees = 20• Mentors = 4• 5:1 ratio

North Carolina A&T State University• Mentees = 30• Mentors = 4• 7:1 ratio

University of Maryland Eastern Shore• Mentees = 30• Mentors = 3• 8:1 ratio

CRI Time and Effort• Time and Effort

– Staff dedication 50% (SM)– Manager 75%

• Travel– Travel twice a semester to university

• Communication between Site Manager & Mentor– Phone calls once a week, email correspondence & reporting.

• Training– OSSE/Staff training held once a year (facilitated by POSSE)– Mentor training held twice a year

• Program Evaluation– Once a semester evaluation done by POSSE (site visits)– Helps to Move Program

CRI Budget• Mentors/ Staff

– $2,000 per mentor + 26 mentors = $56,000.00

• Site Managers (SM)– 3 Site Managers OSSE employees

• Travel – $7,000.00

• Meals– $3,000.00 ($600.00 per University)– Major training meals $24,000.00 (3 major training dates)– Meals are given when mentors are present

• Partner– $85,000.00

• Possible Program Budget

Challenges• Partners

• Mentor/ Employee

• Hiring

• “Mandatory” participation

• Budget

Q&A

For More Information:

Chloe Woodward-MagraneManager, Early College & Career Awarenesschloe.woodward-magrane@dc.gov

SirWalter HemphillManagement Analystsirwalter.hemphill@dc.gov