A BluePrint for Success: Case Studies of Successful - Educational ...

A Blueprint for Success
Student Centered
Weekly data entry processes are aligned to attendance expectations and services. Additionally, an annual
student satisfaction survey is conducted to assess the experience of students in CT programs.
Real Time
Tracking systems are able to produce dynamic reports that allow for systemic thinking and immediate
decision making.
Mixed Methods
In addition to the quantitative data collected on student participation, GPA, graduation, and more,
qualitative data are collected three times per year. Staff members fill out internal evaluations and reflect
on their program and their site. Further, six program “walks” are conducted per year, which
monitor program quality, student engagement, and what students demonstrate that they are learning
in each class.
Data are collected on an ongoing basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, by semester, and annually). According
to College Track, the organization fosters a data-driven culture and evaluation system in order
to best develop programs and make informed decisions based on real-time data and demonstrated
results.
College & University Partnerships
College Track maintains three types of partnerships: local partnerships connected to specific CT
sites, organization-wide partnerships, and partners that support “new” sites.
Local Partners Connected to a Specific College Track Site
These include CT’s high school partners so that they can work collaboratively with teachers, counselors,
coaches and principals. They also include local universities and colleges where CT frequently
recruits instructors, tutors and advisors (e.g., UC Berkeley, San Francisco State, Stanford, and
Tulane University). In addition, CT partners with community-based organizations such as Youth
Speaks in San Francisco as a way to provide services at a low cost or no cost to CT students.
Organizational-­‐Wide Partnerships That Serve All or Most Sites
While not an institution of higher education, the EnCorps Teachers Program connects STEM professionals
interested in teaching to College Track and schools where they can try out tutoring and
some instruction before committing to getting a teaching credential. EnCorps provides approximately
10 to 20 tutors to College Track in the Bay Area at no cost. College Track provides training,
coaching and experience to these professionals. Additionally, the BEYOND 12 program provides
coaching and support for CT’s incoming college freshmen students enrolled in California community
colleges, state colleges, and two universities (about 50 students). The service helps CT better connect
its freshmen and address the many needs that they confront.
Educational Policy Institute 56 www.educationalpolicy.org