Calculating Graduation Rates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Example Calculating Graduation Rates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Data Review Application Calculating Graduation Rates

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

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

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

Calculating Graduation Rates