Learning and Earning: Five Years of Drive to 55 and Tennessee Promise

1. Learning and Earning:Five Years of Drive to 55 and Tennessee Promise

2. About Me: • Born and raised in rural Appalachian Southern Ohio • Dreamland-Sam Quinones • Hillbilly Elegy- J.D. Vance • A&E documentary on Portsmouth, Ohio • Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Single Mom • Researching rural Appalachian social capital for nearly 20 years

3. Who is in the room? • What is your role? • What state? • What sector? • Education • Heath Care • Economic Development • Etc.

4. Disclosures • What this session is NOT investigating: • Gender • SES • Race/Ethnicity • Learning Support • Location (urban vs. rural)

5. Disclosures • This session will be looking at comparative quantitative data that crosses the TN Promise timeline. • We will openly discuss the impact of these programs. • Statements made during this presentation represent my own opinions and research and not do not reflect any position or opinion of THEC/TSAC or the state of Tennessee.

6. Background

7. Current THEC/TSAC Efforts

8. The Drive to 55 – our state’s 2014 campaign to increase educational attainment in Tennessee from 32% to 55% by the year 2025 - was comprised of five strategies: Tennessee’s current educational attainment rate hovers around 40%!!

9. Five Strategies for Success • Better prepare students for college while they are still in high school. • Get students into college.  Increase access and affordability. • Get students out of college in a timely fashion, with a degree or credential. • Help adults with some college and no degree go back and finish. • Create alignment and accountability across state agencies, educational institutions, and employers.

10. Strategy 1: Better prepare students for college while they are still in high school. • Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) • Dual Enrollment • College Success Online Course

11. Strategy #2 - To reach 55%, Tennessee needs to produce an additional 494,000 degrees, of which technical certificates and two-year degrees are a key part. Get students into college.  Increase access and affordability. • TN Promise

12. Strategy #3 Get students out of college in a timely fashion, with a degree or credential. • Degree Compass • SAILS • Structure of Certifications

13. Strategy #4 Help adults attain a postsecondary credential. • Tennessee Reconnect • Pilot Community College Program • TCAT • Community College

14. Strategy #5 Create alignment and accountability across state agencies, educational institutions, and employers. • Tennessee LEAP (Labor Education Alignment Program) • Work Ethic Diploma

16. Tennessee Promise Last dollar scholarship applied to tuition and mandatory fees when students choose to attend Community Colleges, TCATS and some four year public and private institutions. Mentoring component to assist students with enrollment navigation and increase student success. No academic or need-based eligibility requirements.

17. Quantitative analysis of outcomes based evaluation TN Promise began with the graduating class of 2015 Has it accomplished its mission to increase the number of degrees and credentials among Tennesseans? Compared data beginning in 2010 to determine if there have been increases.

20. 16206 enrolled

21. Percent enrolled Percent retained 2012/13 31% 2013/14 32% 2014/15 23% 2015/16 24% 2016/17 25% 2012/13 56% 2013/14 58% 2014/15 59% 2015/16 72% 2016/17 73%

22. School Counselor Survey This data is from a doctoral project to gauge the impact of TN Promise on school counselors It was not designed or implemented by THEC/TSAC Give voice to those held accountable Solicit feedback on TN Promise

23. Partnering Organization Models PO’s receive no funding from the state or from Lottery surplus All are self-funded, non-profit organizations Role of the partnering organization is to serve as the state’s front-facing representatives

24. Partnering Organization Models Ayers Foundation • Serves 5 counties-1 of which is Appalachian • Places a paid full time College Access Professional in the school • Works exclusively on Career and College activities and helps students fulfill TN Promise requirements • Manages all mentoring and community service aspects • Develops relationship with all students serving as mentor

25. Partnering Organization Models REDI (Regional Economic Development Initiative) • Serves parts of Southwest TN • Places a paid full time College Access Professional in the school • Works exclusively on Career and College activities and helps students fulfill TN Promise requirements • Manages all mentoring and community service aspects • Develops relationships with all students serving as mentor

26. Partnering Organization Models TN Achieves • Serves 84 counties in TN (will serve 90 effective 7/1/19) • Uses volunteer community mentors to assist students with the career and college going process and TN Promise requirements • Schedules mandatory meetings in each school • Introduces mentors and students in spring term

27. Data feedback from 54 school counselors and college access professionals. All of the responses were from schools under a single Partnering Organization model.

28. A College Access Professional can assist students with career and college advising and applications. The position does not require Master’s degree training or school counselor certification. Therefore, having one in the school can relieve school counselors to do more social-emotional and behavioral counseling. Tennessee has many non-profit organizations and grant funded placements of College Access Professionals.

33. Qualitative Contributions What positives have been reflected due to Tennessee Promise? Nearly 80% of respondents felt like TN Promise had increased students’ knowledge of a tuition free option if needed. 75.51% felt like it provided an opportunity for students that did not have high academic scores, Reoccurring opinions included affordability, additional assistance due to state expectations, and family support due to affordability.

34. Qualitative Contributions “What negative consequences, if any have you experienced due to Tennessee Promise?”

36. Sources • THEC / TSAC • TN Fact Book 2011-2018 • TN Promise Annual Report 2016-2018 • TN Department of Education • Graduation Cohort Data

37. Open Floor Erika Adams Outreach Specialist-East THEC / TSAC erika.adams@tn.gov 615-417-0355 Regional office: Jonesborough, TN