THE VALUE OF COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN GEORGIA

1. THE VALUE OF COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN GEORGIA

2. Why College- and Career-Ready Expectations for All? • A high school diploma is no longer enough; now, nearly every good job requires some education beyond high school – such as an associates or bachelors degree, certificate, license, or completion of an apprenticeship or significant on-the-job training. • The U.S. is at risk of losing its competitive advantaged as the most highly educated nation. • Far too many students drop out or graduate from high school without the knowledge and skills required for success, closing doors and limiting their post-high school options and opportunities. • Requiring a college- and career-ready curriculum for all students will provide students with the core, foundational knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college, careers and life.

3. A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS NO LONGER ENOUGH FOR SUCCESS

4. Jobs in Today’s Workforce Require More Education & Training Source: Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna M. Desrochers, Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K–16 Reform, Educational Testing Service, 2003.

5. The Rise of the Middle-Skill Jobs High-skill jobs Occupations in the professional/ technical and managerial categories. Often require four-year degrees and above Middle-skill jobs Occupations that include clerical, sales, construction, installation/repair, production, and transportation/material moving. Low-skill jobs Occupations in the service and agricultural categories. • Often require some education and training beyond high school (but typically less than a bachelor’s degree), including associate’s degrees, vocational certificates, significant on-the-job training. Source: The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs” by Harry J. Holzer and Robert I. Lerman, Brookings Institution, February 2009.

6. Employment Shares by Occupational Skill Level Source: The Future of Middle-Skill Jobs” by Harry J. Holzer and Robert I. Lerman, Brookings Institution, February 2009.

7. Demand for Middle-Skill Workers Outpaces Georgia’s Supply In 1950, 60% of jobs were classified as unskilled, attainable by young people with high school diplomas or less. Today, less than 20% of jobs are considered to be unskilled. One result: In Georgia, the demand for middle- and high-skilled workers is outpacing the state’s supply of workers educated and experienced at that level. • 81% of Georgia’s jobs are middle- or high-skill (jobs that require some postsecondary education or training). • Yet only 36% of Georgia adults have some postsecondary degree (associate’s or higher). Sources: Carnevale, Anthony P. and Donna Desrochers (2003). “Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K-12 Reform,” Education Testing Services. http://www.learndoearn.org/For-Educators/Standards-for-What.pdf; Skills to Compete. http://www.skills2compete.org; Measuring Up (2008), “The National Report Card on Higher Education. “ http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/index.php

8. Georgia’s Middle-Skill Jobs Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org

9. Personal and National Costs of Less Education If the students who dropped out of the class of 2008 had graduated, the U.S. economy would have benefited from an additional $319 billion in income over their lifetimes. Higher levels of education lead to elevated wages, a more equitable distribution of income and substantial gains in productivity. For every additional average year of schooling U.S. citizens complete, the GDP would increase by about 0.37 percentage points – or by 10% – over time. Source: “The High Cost of High School Dropouts: What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools.” Alliance for Excellent Education Issue Brief, 2009 http://www.all4ed.org/files/HighCost.pdf; Jamison, Dean T. et al, (Spring 2008). “Education and Economic Growth.” Education Next.http://educationnext.org/education-and-economic-growth/

10. Personal Benefits of Education in Georgia Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2008). “Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.” Figures are based on total person within the civilian labor force

11. THE U.S. IS AT RISK OF LOSING ITS COMPETITIVE EDGE

12. America’s International Edge in High School Diplomas is Slipping Source: OECD, “Education at a Glance,” 2007 (All rates are self-reported)

13. America’s International Edge in Postsecondary Degrees Attainment is Slipping Source: OECD, “Education at a Glance,” 2007 (All rates are self-reported)

14. America’s International Edge in Postsecondary Degree Attainment is Slipping Source: OECD Education at a Glance, 2007; National Center for Higher Education Management Systems analysis of 2007 American Community Survey. http://www.higheredinfo.org

15. FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS DROP OUT OR GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS

16. The Expectations Gap The knowledge and skills demanded by postsecondary and employers for successful first-year students and new employees. What students are typically expected to know at the end of high school, as defined by state standards, required curriculum and assessments ≠ RESULT In many states, students can earn a high school diploma without the skills necessary for success in college and careers.

17. Of Every 100 9th Graders in Georgia… Source: NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis. Student Pipeline - Transition and Completion Rates from 9th Grade to College. www.higheredinfo.org/dbrowser/index.php?submeasure=119&year=2006&level=nation&mode=data&state=0

18. High School Graduation Rates Remain Inequitable Source: Education Week, Education Counts. Developed through the Custom Table Builder, http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

19. Enrollment in College Does NOT Equal College Readiness Percentage of U.S. first-year students in two-year and four-year institutions requiring remediation Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Remedial Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions in Fall 2000, 2003.

20. And Freshmen at Two-Year Colleges are More Likely to Require Remediation Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Remedial Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions in Fall 2000, 2003.

21. Enrollment in College Does NOT Equal College Readiness in Georgia Source:The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. “Georgia’s Education Scoreboard.” http://gaosa.org/Index.aspx 22% of Georgia’s 2007 high school graduates enrolled in the state’s public colleges (including research, state colleges, universities and 8 two-year colleges) require remediation/learning support.

22. Many College Students Fail to Return forTheir Sophomore Year Source: Measuring Up (2008). The National Report Card on Higher Education. http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/index.php; National Center for Education Statistics (2003), Remedial Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions in Fall 2000.

23. Many College Students in Georgia Fail to Earn a Degree Percent of students earning a bachelors’ degree within six years, 2006 Source: NCES, IPEDS Graduation Rate Survey, analyzed by National Center for Management of Higher Education Systems.

24. ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM A COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READY CURRICULUM

25. Low-Level Classes Are More Indicative of Dropouts Than Rigorous Courses Source:Lee, V. E. & Bukam, D. T. (2003). Dropping Out of High School: The Role of School Organization and Structure. American Educational Research Journal, 40(2), 353-393. • Just offering low- or high-level math courses has an impact on a student’s likelihood of dropping out. • One study found that for every two additional math courses offered in high school below the level of algebra, students experienced more than a 28 percent increase in their odds of dropping out. • On the other hand, students who attended high schools that offered calculus exhibited a 56 decrease in their odds of dropping out, even when taking school and student demographics into account.

26. If We Challenge Students – They Will Rise to the Occasion Average 8–12th grade test score gains in mathematics for 1992 public high school graduates according to 8th-grade mathematics test score quartiles, by curriculum specialization in high school Source: Levesque, Karen et al (2000). Vocational Education in the United States: Toward the Year 2000. National Center for Education Statistics.

27. Low-Achieving Students Learn More in Rigorous Courses Gains of low-achieving students* placed in different tracks *Grades 8–12 test score gains based on 8th grade achievement. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Vocational Education in the United States: Toward the Year 2000, in Issue Brief: Students Who Prepare for College and Vocation.

28. Low-Achieving Students FailLess Oftenin Rigorous Courses 9th grade English performance, by 9th grade course and 8th grade reading achievement Percentage of students earning a “D” or “F” Source: Cooney, Sondra and Gene Bottoms, Southern Regional Education Board, Middle Grades to High School: Mending a Weak Link, 2002, p. 9.

29. The Importance of Rigorous Course-Takingin Closing Gaps Source: Horn, L. and A.M. Nuñez (2000). Mapping the Road to College: First-generation Students' Math Track, Planning Strategies, and Context of Support. U.S. Department of Education. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/2001153.pdf; Adelman, C. (2006). The Toolbox Revisited: Paths to Degree Completion from High School through College. U.S. Department of Education. Students who take challenging courses and meet high standards are much more likely to enter college ready to succeed. • 87% of first-generation college-going students – who took a highly rigorous course of study in high school – persisted in college or earned a degree after 18 months. • Only 55% of first-generation students who took just a general curriculum persisted that long. High school students who take advanced math nearly double their chances of earning a postsecondary degree: • 59% of low-income students who took advanced math in high school earned a bachelor’s degree. • 36% of low-income students who did not complete the rigorous high school course of study earned a bachelor’s degree.

30. Advanced Math Boosts College Completion Source: Adelman, C. (2006, February). The Toolbox Revisited: Paths to Degree Completion from High School through College. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. (p. xxvi).

31. A Strong High School Curriculum* Improves College Completion and Narrows Gaps *Completing at least Algebra II plus other courses. Source: Adapted from Adelman, Clifford, U.S. Department of Education, Answers in the Toolbox, 1999.

32. A STATE EXAMPLE

33. A State Example: Texas’ Recommended High School Program Beginning with the class of 2008, all students are automatically enrolled in the college- and career-ready curriculum – the Recommended High School Program. The RHSP has been available as an optional college-preparatory curriculum for the last decade, but only recently became the default requirement for all students. Currently, the RHSP includes three years of rigorous math course-taking; in 2011, the RHSP will be expanded to include four years of the four main content areas – English, math, science and social studies.

34. A State Example: Texas’ Recommended High School Program * Dropped out over four years Source: Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System, State Performance Report 2008-09, 2008-07. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/index.html

35. More Texas Students Now Complete the Recommended High School Program Source: Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System, State Performance Report 2008-09, 2008-07. 2001-02. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/index.html

36. Texas’ Graduation Rate Has Stayed Constant, While More Graduates Complete the RHSP Source: Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System, State Performance Report 2008-09, 2008-07. 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03. 2001-02. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/index.html

37. THE VALUE OF COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN GEORGIA