WELCOME

1. WELCOME Florida’s Cohort Graduation Rate And Review Process Presenters Cyndi Holleman, FLDOE Barbara Brannen, FAMIS Data Committee

2. Purpose Go over the methodology Go over the three versions that are currently in place Explain the new review process and timeline How the new process will work from a district’s perspective Questions and Answers

3. Definition The percentage of students who graduated within four years of their initial enrollment in ninth grade.

4. The Process Build the cohort Adjust the cohort Count the graduates

5. Building the Cohort Includes all 1st time 9th graders in fall 2006-07 membership Adds incoming transfers on the same schedule to graduate

6. Example New 9th graders in 2006-07 New 10th graders in 2007-08 New 11th graders in 2008-09 New 12th graders in 2009-10

7. Adjusting the Cohort Transfers to other public schools (W3A, W3B, W02) Transfers to private schools (W04) Transfers to home education programs (W24) Transfers to adult education programs (W26) Deceased students (W12) Additional Year Students* (typically ESE students opting to remain in school until age 21)

8. Counting the Graduates NGA Version (the official version and the version used for School Grades Calculations) NCLB Version (used for federal reporting) Florida Version (used since 1998-99)

9. What about the others? The remaining students are then categorized into two “buckets”. Dropouts (DNEs, W05, W13-W23) Non-graduates (students still in school or certificate recipients – (W01, W08, W8A, W09, WPO, ASY*)

10. What is ASY? Additional School Year Student is reported on the Student Demographic Format. Definition: A code to indicate that the student being reported (1) has accepted a Certificate of Completion, but has returned to school during an additional school year beyond Grade Level 12 for the purpose of completing graduation requirements in order to be awarded a Standard Diploma or (2) is disabled, has not yet reached age 22, has met requirements for a Special Diploma, Certificate of Completion, Special Certificate of Completion, or GED and has opted to continue receiving FAPE.

11. Why are ASY students removed from the cohort? • Students coded with an “S” or “F” have been counted in a previous cohort – you do not want to pull these students into a second cohort!

12. Calculate the Rate Numerator (number of graduates) ÷ Denominator (number in adjusted cohort)

13. New Process to Review Cohort Why a new process? Districts needed a more streamlined process to review and update the cohort.

14. What’s different? Main difference – working with one final file versus four years of formats and edits. Download flat text file that lists all students in the unadjusted cohort with their last withdrawal/diploma code Allows for updates and corrections to prior year data Only the flat text file is sent back to DOE

15. Advantages of the new process Easier Quicker More accurate

16. Reviewing the file – what to look for? Are they still a dropout? Did you find them in another school or district (use the dropout match reports)? Did they enroll in a home education program or a private school? Did they enroll in an adult education program?

17. Transfer Students Is the withdrawal code correct? Is the withdrawal date correct? The code associated with the latest withdrawal date is the one used. W02 should still be used.

18. Additional School Year Services Is the student an “Additional School Year Student”? If so, this element must be coded “S” or “F”. Ensures student is not pulled into an additional cohort.

19. Summer School Students that graduate during the summer are counted in the current year. Students that pass ACT/SAT after the beginning of the 2010-11 school year should not be included in this year’s cohort.

20. We’ve found our errors – now what? Enter the correct code in the Action Field and the correct withdrawal date in the Action Date. If the student is a duplicate – put “DUP” in the Action Field. If the student should not be in this cohort – put “DEL” in the Action Field. If a student is not listed in the cohort but should be – all fields must be entered and “ADD” in the Action Field.

21. Submitting Corrected File • The file received in May is only for review purposes. • Corrections are to be made to the file received in September. • File must be submitted to DOE in the same format as it was received

22. Current Year Survey 5 Data Make corrections to both the cohort review file and submit corrections via the student database as usual .

23. Due Date • The final file must be received by October 25 before 9:00 PM EST. • No exceptions, no excuses!

24. Release Date November or December

25. Graduation Rate versus Dropout Rate They are not inverses of one another. The rates apply to different periods of measurement Grad rate is a four-year, cohort-based indicator Dropout rate is a single-year indicator The rates apply to difference populations. Graduation rate tracks the progress of a group of students that entered the same grade at the same time. Dropout rate tracks all 9-12 students in a single year.

26. Many students who do not graduate in four years are not dropouts. 2008-09 Cohort File Adjusted Cohort = 192,512 Total NGA Graduates = 144,440 Total Dropouts = 13,809 Total Non-grads = 34,263

27. Who are the non-graduates? Certificates of Completers Students that do not graduate on time, such as repeaters Additional School Year students

28. Local Perspective Barbara Brannen

29. Follow Up Question and Answer Session Submit questions to askeias@fldoe.org Or call (850) 245-0400