Start with the FactsStrengthening Denver Public Schools’ Education Pipeline

A+ Denver • Colorado Children’s Campaign • Metro Organizations for People

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Background-Denver’s Public Schools: Reforms, Challenges and the Future, 2009

➡ Project of A+, CCC and MOP➡ Focused on results and strategies➡ Compared DPS performance indicators to

state, other urban systems➡ Little change in student outcomes from

2000-2006 but began to see positive changes in recent years

➡ Instruction strategies and programs began in 2002 and 2003

➡ Denver evolved from centralized system to more “portfolio” managed in 2007

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Achievement highlights- 2009

➡ Small improvement in most grades and most subjects CSAP

➡ Large achievement gaps with all groups➡ strong ACT gains in short time➡ About half do not graduate in 4yrs, bottom

third of urban districts➡ Difficult to compare to other urban districts

because of no national test in Denver

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State of improvement strategies-2009

➡ Overall strong commitment to reform from district and board “DPS deserves credit for willingness to to tackle so much all at once”

➡ Denver Plan- “Positive but not conclusive”➡ ProComp- “Positive 1st year evaluation”➡ New Schools, Performance and

evaluation- “Awaiting higher achievement in general”

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Comparison Urban districts NAEP 2009 Reading (was not in report)

Urban District 4th grade change since 2002

4th grade change since 2007

8th grade change since 2002

8th grade change since 2007

Chicago 9* 2 0 0

DC 13* 6* 0 0

LA 6* 2 7* 3*

NYC 11* 4* NA 3

San Diego NA 3 NA 4*

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“Start with the Facts” 2011

➡ Continued collaboration A+, CCC and MOP➡ Focus on student outcomes➡ Did not evaluate or compare DPS strategies

(little change from 2009 except for implementation on some like new schools)

➡ ECE to college data➡ Pipeline data better today but still not

complete particularly at ECE-grade 3 and at end of high school levels

➡ Best data for measuring quality of pipeline is college success not easily available!

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Enrollment: More Denver students attending DPS schools, but many choosing other districts

➡ Preschool increased 30 percentage points from 2005 to 2010, rising from 3,403 to 4,530 students

➡ Full day K increased 80 percentage points, rising from 4,048 to 7,297 students.

➡ 81,431 students in Denver today (high mark since 1974)

➡ 4,317 out of district students choice in while 7,732 DPS students choice out (net loss of 3,415)

➡ About 51.8% do not graduate in 4 yrs. Improvement for grad rates for those that start w DPS high schools and for 5 yr and 6yr grad rates

Number of Children (3 to 5 Years Old) Attending DPS Preschool and Full-Day Kindergarten

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Denver CSAP “Growth”

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Elementary Reading 4th grade

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Middle School Reading 8th grade

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High School Writing 10th grade

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Dropout and graduation rates

➡ Dropout rates have dropped significantly

➡ 4yr graduation rates have slightly improved

➡ 4yr graduation rates for students starting in DPS high schools have improved

➡ 5 and 6yr grad rates have improved

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DPS college matriculation

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DPS college preparation and remediation

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Reminder of why it matters

➡ Each student that fails to graduate will cost the state $524,000 in lost taxes and increased social/health costs (DPS class of 2010 will cost CO $1.2 B)

➡ 70% of CO jobs in 2020 will require a career certificate or degree

➡ Of 100 that enter CO 2 yr colleges, only 6 graduate in 4 yrs

➡ Of 100 that enter CO 4 yr colleges, only 31 graduate in 8 yrs

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Recommendations Data and Reporting

➡ ECE to 2nd grade achievement should be tracked and reported publically

➡ Student growth and achievement should be given equal weight in reporting

➡ It’s not enough to send kids to college if they are not prepared (remediation rates are major concern)

➡ College matriculation and success rates should be tracked and reported for the district and each high school program

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Enormous Range in School Quality

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Good enough? How do we change curve? What’s working? What’s not?

?

2012

2006

2000

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Correlation is not Causation: Next Steps

➡ Many strategies…from human capital, instruction, portfolio management, etc

➡ Some strategies like ProComp have specific evaluations, most do not

➡ There is no comprehensive evaluation related to big picture improvement

➡ What’s driving improvement, what’s not working? Why?

???