Calculating Graduation Rates

1. Calculating Graduation Rates • Massachusetts Department of Education • November 2006 • Bob Bickerton, Senior Associate Commissioner: Center for Lifelong Learning, Assessment, Educator Quality and Technology • Paula O’Sullivan, Project Manager Calculating Graduation Rates

2. Calculating Graduation RatesAgenda • Background • Formula & Data • Timeline • Questions Calculating Graduation Rates

3. Background • Not previously calculated by MADOE • Provide critical information on the progress of students • Required under NCLB for use in AYP for secondary schools • Agreed to under National Governors Association (NGA) compact with all 50 states Calculating Graduation Rates

4. Background • Different from dropout rates • Dropout rate: statistic about a particular school year • Graduation rate: statistic about a particular cohort of students over time For example, a school that typically has a dropout rate of 3% may have a graduation rate of 82%. Calculating Graduation Rates

5. Development Process • DOE Cross-agency Policy Group • Research into other states • Participation on Council of Chief State School Officers task-force Calculating Graduation Rates

6. Graduation Rate Formula • Required under NCLB “The percentage of students, measured from the beginning of high school, who graduate from high school with a regular diploma in the standard number of years.” NCLB Act, Section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) • Agreed to under National Governors Association (NGA) compact MADOE agreed to “take steps to implement a standard, four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.” (i.e. divide the number of on-time graduates in a given year by the number of first time entering ninth graders four years earlier, adjusted for transfers in and out of the system). Calculating Graduation Rates

7. Graduation Rate Formula 4-Year Rate: # of students in cohort X who graduate in 4 years or less [# of 1st time 9th graders in X-3] – transfers out + transfers in A significant number of students do not graduate by the “4-year on-time” standard, but graduate in 5 years. Hence, MA DOE will also calculate a 5-year graduation rate: 5-Year Rate: # of students in cohort X who graduate in 5 years or less [# of 1st time 9th graders in X-3] – transfers out + transfers in Calculating Graduation Rates

8. Cohort 2006 Transfer out, death Cohort 2006 4-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘06? 5-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘07? Oct 1, 2002 9th grade first time Transfer In Calculating Graduation Rates

9. Starting with Cohort 2008 Transfer out, death Cohort 2008 4-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘08? 5-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘09? 8th Grade Completers Transfer In Calculating Graduation Rates

10. Example Calculating Graduation Rates

11. Adjusted Cohort 2006 Transfer out, death Cohort 2006 4-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘06? 5-year rate: How many graduate by summer ‘07? Oct 1, 2002 9th grade first time Transfer In Calculating Graduation Rates

12. Data Sources • SIMS data starting with end-of-year 2001-02 through EOY06 • Subsequent SIMS data brought in when available • Missing Student Reports – information on students enrolled at the end of one school year, not enrolled the following year • Confirmed against CD database • GED data Calculating Graduation Rates

13. Graduation Rates Calculated By • Limited English Proficiency • Low-Income • Special Education • Race/Ethnicity • Gender Reported in at least one SIMS report Last reported category Students may be in more than one sub-group. Calculating Graduation Rates

14. Other Things to Note • Summer graduates - counted with preceding spring graduates • Students placed by district in a private school or collaborative - included in district rate • No cut-off date for transfers in Calculating Graduation Rates

15. Timeline • Oct: Finalize methodology for calculating rate • Nov. 15th – Dec. 14th: Districts review cohort 2006 student data on security portal and request data corrections if necessary. Rates not yet calculated. ***Updated from 9/18/06 Notification*** Calculating Graduation Rates

16. Timeline (cont.) • ***Dec. 19th: Board of Education expected to discuss the use of graduation rates for AYP purposes • ***Jan. 23rd: BOE expected to vote on AYP target • Dec – Jan: Department will make decisions on corrections requests, implement approved changes, and calculate rates Calculating Graduation Rates

17. Timeline (cont.) • Late Jan: Rates released to districts for final review, 10 days prior to public release of the data • Early Feb: Public release of the graduation rates • August 2007: 2006 graduation data will be used in AYP determinations Calculating Graduation Rates

18. Data Review Application • Accessible through the DOE security portal • Security role “SIMS Data Transmission” and “Graduation Rate Data Submit” • List of students in the original 2006 cohort, the students who left/entered the cohort, and the status of students in the cohort as of EOY06 • User can enter a request for correction at the student-level • No aggregate data Calculating Graduation Rates

19. Data Review Application Calculating Graduation Rates

20. Data Review Application Calculating Graduation Rates

21. Data Review Application Confidential Data Over Here Name, DOB, SASID, LASID Calculating Graduation Rates

22. Presentations • MSSAA Oct. 26 • Regional Forum Nov. 8 – Shrewsbury • Regional Forum Nov. 15 – Taunton • MASS Nov. 16 • Regional Forum Nov. 20 – Malden • Regional Forum Nov. 29 – Springfield Regional Forums: http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/ Calculating Graduation Rates

23. More Information… • Commissioner’s Update – 9/18/06 • http://www.doe.mass.edu/mailings/2006/cm091906.html • Project Website • http://www.doe.mass.edu/infoservices/reports/gradrates/ • graduationrates@doe.mass.edu Calculating Graduation Rates