Rigor Relevance Relationships

1. Rigor Relevance Relationships Creating High Schools that Make a Difference for Iowa & Iowans

2. It’s not our parents’ Iowa. “Our children deserve and need a world-class education that prepares them for the challenge of global competition. While Iowa enjoys good schools today, our children need the best if they hope to succeed with that competition and in life.” --Governor Tom Vilsack, December 2004

3. Most jobs require higher levels of reading, communication, math and problem-solving skills than ever before.

4. “The days of the uneducated grease monkey are over.” Aspiring auto mechanics must have increasingly sophisticated vocational skills and must constantly adapt to continually changing technology. Career summary for Auto Mechanics, The Princeton Review

5. 49 of the 50 highest paying jobs of tomorrow will require post-high school education--U.S. Department of Labor

6. A high school diploma is not the last educational stop required Jobs that require at least some postsecondary education will make up more than two-thirds of new jobs. Share of new jobs, 2000–10 Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna M. Desrochers, Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K–16 Reform, Educational Testing Service, 2003.

7. All students, not just those bound for college, benefit from taking challenging courses in high school. • Preparation for technical school and work • Fields from auto mechanics to tourism now rely on technology and require strong math and science skills.

8. Case in point: • Requirements for tool and die makers • Four or five years of apprenticeship and/or postsecondary training • Algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics • Requirements for sheet metal workers • Four or five years of apprenticeship • Algebra, geometry, trigonometry and technical reading Source: American Diploma Project, 2002.

9. Employers say high school graduates lack basic skills. • 73 percent of employers rate the writing skills of recent high school graduates as fair or poor • 63 percent were dissatisfied with graduates’ math skills --Reality Check, Public Agenda, 2002

10. “Even 15 years ago, a high school diploma was a ticket to the middle class. Those days, and those jobs, are gone.”--Jacquelyn M. Belcher, vice chair, National Commission on the High School Senior Year

11. When it comes to RIGOR, students say, “Bring it on.”

12. 9 in 10 students say they would work harder if their high school expected more of them Less than 1/3 say their school sets high academic expectations State of Our Nation’s Youth, Horatio Alger Association, May 2005

13. Regardless of family background: ...and they are right. Most students believe study after high school is an advantage. Life After High School, Public Agenda, 2005

14. Education Pays:Annual earnings of 25-34 year-olds by attainment, 2001 Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, March 2002

15. Higher learning = Higher earnings Unemployment rate in 2003 Median weekly earnings 2003 Master’s degree 2.9% $1,064 Bachelor’s degree 3.3% $900 Associate’s degree 4.0% $672 5.2% Some college, no degree $622 5.5% High school graduate $554 8.8% Some high school, no diploma $396 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment and full-time wage and salary earnings for workers 25 and older.

16. Students know learning matters… Our job is to prepare them for success.

17. “This is not about competition among school districts; the competition is global. It’s absolutely imperative that we prepare our students to go on for more education after high school.”--Governor Tom Vilsack

18. Iowa’s Leadership Challenge: • All students will graduate having taken challenging, relevant courses that prepare them well for productive employment and citizenship. • Iowa Learns Council Goal: 90% of Iowa high school graduates will go on to complete at least two years of college.

19. So, how are we doing? An Iowa Reality Check

20. The Iowa Education Pipeline For every 100 Iowa 9th graders: • 83 graduate from high school four years later • 54 immediately enter college • 37 are still enrolled their second year • 28 will earn an associate’s degree within 3 years or a bachelor’s degree within 6 years Source: National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, 2002

21. The OUR DISTRICT Education Pipeline For every 100 9th graders in our district: • XX graduate from high school four years later • XX immediately enter college • XX are still enrolled their second year • XX will earn an associate’s degree within 3 years or a bachelor’s degree within 6 years Insert your data here if available

22. Checkpoint:Iowa High School Graduation • Iowa is among the top states in terms of graduation rate… Yet at least 1 of 10 Iowa students doesn’t graduate. Source: Iowa Condition of Education Report, 2004-05

23. Checkpoint:Algebra I • The “traditional” course for high school freshmen, yet… 45.3% of Iowa 9th graders take a lower-level course Source: Improving Rigor and Relevance in the High School Curriculum, Iowa Department of Education, September 2005

24. Checkpoint:Core Curriculum 4 years English and 3 years each ofmath, natural science and social studies 1/3 of Iowa students who take the ACT take less than a core curriculum Source: Iowa Condition of Education Report, 2004-05

25. Checkpoint:Advanced Placement • U.S. high schools providing A.P. courses: 60% Iowa high schools: 45% Iowa ranks 46th in the nation in the number of AP exams taken by 11th and 12th graders Source: Iowa Department of Education, September 2005

26. Checkpoint:Achievement Gap On virtually every indicator… Your chances of success go down remarkably if you are poor or a racial minority. Source: Indicators in Iowa Condition of Education Report, 2004-05

27. Checkpoint:In our district… Insert slides with your district data here

28. If this is our destination… • All students will graduate having taken challenging, relevant courses that prepare them well for productive employment and citizenship. • Iowa Learns Council Goal: 90% of Iowa high school graduates will go on to complete at least two years of college.

29. Then our focus must be onRigorRelevanceand Relationships

30. It’s more than… Memorizing Reciting Restating Students must become adept at… Deep understanding Applying knowledge Solving problems Analyzing Rigor

31. Relates to student interests and needs Real-world situations and contexts Linked to a global economy and democratic life Relevance

32. Relationships • Ensuring each student feels connected, each student succeeds • Caring, student-focused environment • Supports for struggling students

33. 6 Keys for Iowa Schools • High Expectations • Collaborative Leadership • Professional Development • Student-Focused School Environment • Rigorous, Relevant Curriculum • Student Assessment and Program Evaluation

34. 5 Keys for Iowa Communities • High Expectations • Parent Involvement • Business Engagement • Community Supports for Youth • Understanding of School Change Efforts

35. The Focus for Our District CUSTOMIZE Describe your district’s efforts or plan here. Keep it simple.

36. Brighter Futures Ahead prepared byIowa Association of School Boards www.ia-sb.org In partnership with Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa High Schools Steering Committee