Big Idea 2: A ligning E xpectations b etween K-12 and C ommunity C olleges

1. Big Idea 2: Aligning Expectations between K-12 and Community Colleges Dwight Smith, Ed.D. Vice President of Academic Affairs, County College of Morris Karen Hays, Ed.D. Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Middlesex County College Jacqueline Galbiati, Ed.D. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Services, Cumberland County College Casey Crabill, Ed.D. President, Raritan Valley Community College Penny MacCormack, Ed.D. Assistant Commissioner/Chief Academic Officer, NJ Department of Education

2. Presidents’ Charge: By December 2011, develop an inventory of efforts across New Jersey that demonstrate collaboration with high schools to increase college readiness, including but not limited to, early assessment activity, advising, concurrent enrollment, etc.

3. Inventory of K-14 Alignment Efforts at NJ County Colleges • Early Assessment • Advising • Concurrent Enrollment • College Faculty/High School Meetings • Other (specify)

4. Early Assessment • ACCUPLACER administered to high school students by 17 of 19 county colleges • ACCUPLACER administered to high school teachers by 3 county colleges • Number of high schools and high school students participating varies • ALEKS administered to high school students by 1 county college

5. Advising • High school students provided advising by the 19 county colleges • Advising delivered by faculty and staff in a variety of programs and forums

6. Concurrent Enrollment • Dual enrollment or credit courses offered by the 19 county colleges • Dual enrollment or credit courses offered at the college or high school • Number of dual or credit courses/enrollment varies at the 19 county colleges • Some county colleges reported offering 36-58 courses

7. College Faculty/High School Teacher Meetings • Faculty and high school teacher meetings occur at each county college • Frequency of meetings varies with all reporting a minimum of 1 annual meeting • Some county colleges report meetings include curriculum supervisors and superintendents • Topics include curriculum alignment and are discipline specific • College faculty and high school teachers meet as part of Professional Day(s)

8. Other alignment efforts • All county colleges report other alignment efforts • Included in county college strategic plan • Tech Prep and Articulation Agreements • Invite high school teachers and counselors on advisory committees and grants • Assigned staff and offices (Director of School Relations, Office of School Relations)

9. Conclusions • All county colleges engaged • Variety of approaches are deployed • College faculty and high school teachers meet regularly

10. Presidents’ Charge 2 Assist presidents in discussions with the NJ Department of Education about K-12 alignment with higher education that might include the following: • Implementing one single common test that (a) assesses high school students on the Common Core and (b) simultaneously serves as a college test; • Using more extensive diagnostic assessment to better identify students’ academic strengths and weaknesses in preparation for college. • Offering bridge courses in the 12th grade directly tied to student needs, as identified by the diagnostics.

11. Perspectives on Aligning Expectations