Preparing High School Students for College - ERIC - U.S. ...

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The Texas ContextTexas, which enrolls one in 14 first-time undergraduates in the nation, ranks belowthe national average in postsecondary educational attainment; it is currently ranked 32ndout of 50 states (FSG, 2011). However, Texas has shown a high level of commitment toenrolling a greater number of students from diverse backgrounds in postsecondaryeducation and to increasing those students’ level of college readiness. Secondary–postsecondary partnerships have been encouraged as a method of achieving this goal inseveral ways, described below.The Closing the Gaps Initiative and the Creation of StandardsIn 2000, Texas launched the Closing the Gaps by 2015 initiative with the goal of“closing the higher education gaps within Texas and between Texas and other leadingstates” (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2010). The plan focused onincreasing student participation and success rates, the number of nationally recognizedcollege and university programs, and the level of federal science and engineering researchfunding in higher education across the state. While Texas has increased its degreecompletion rates, the costs associated with non-completion remain significant. The TexasHigher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) analyzed its financial aid database andfound that between 2003 and 2009, 66 percent of the 159,824 students who entered collegedid not graduate, resulting in a loss of $713.2 million in financial aid and $397.9 million inlocal and state revenue foregone 4 (American Youth Policy Forum, 2010).Texas has also worked to increase the college readiness of its students through thecreation of state-specific College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) (Texas Gen.Laws House Bill 3, §39.024, 2009). These standards describe what students need to knowand be able to do to succeed in either entry-level college courses or the skilled workplace(Rolfhus, Cook, Brite, & Hartman, 2010). The standards were developed by vertical teamsof secondary and higher education teachers, faculty, and administrators with expertise in thefour foundational areas of the public school curriculum — English language arts, socialsciences, mathematics, and science (Texas Education Agency, 2010). 54 The revenue foregone primarily reflects lower tax receipts from less educated, lower income citizens.5 Because Texas created its own standards resulting in the CCRS, the state has not adopted thenational Common Core State Standards. The Common Core State Standards Initiative, sponsored by theNational Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, has developed a singleset of national K-12 curriculum standards aligned to college readiness standards (Council of Chief StateSchool Officers and National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, 2010).6
In addition, the Texas legislature has set aside funds specifically for collegereadiness programs. In 2008, the 79th Legislature provided $327 million during the 2008–09 school year and $336 million during the 2009–10 school year to aid school districts inimplementing strategies and activities to help underachieving students from grades 6–12become college ready (Texas Education Agency & Texas Higher Education CoordinatingBoard, 2010). Examples of approved activities include sponsoring college tours, coveringtuition fees for dual credit and Advanced Placement courses and exams, and implementingother college readiness and awareness activities.P-16 CoordinationTexas has also taken steps in recent years to augment its P-16 structure to ensurethat the long-range plans and goals established by the elementary and secondary educationsectors are coordinated with higher education standards. Mandated in 2003, the State P-16Council includes members from the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Department ofAssistive and Rehabilitative Services. The Commissioner of Higher Education and theCommissioner of Education serve as co-chairs of the council. In 2005, the TexasLegislature helped to define the role of the State P-16 Council by passing House Bill 2808Section 61.076, which outlined the following objectives:[Align] the goals of the State P-16 Council and educational programs topromote more effective functionality of the public education continuum.[Coordinate] plans and programs, including curricula, instructionalprograms, research, and other functions as appropriate.Examine and make recommendations regarding the alignment ofsecondary and postsecondary education curricula and testing andassessment.Advise the board and the State Board of Education on the coordination ofpostsecondary career and technology activities, career and technologyteacher education programs offered … in the colleges and universities ofthis state, and other relevant matters. (Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board, 2011a)In 2006, the THECB initiated the formation of P-16 regional councils, whichsupport the goals of Closing the Gaps by 2015 by addressing local issues. There arecurrently 19 regional councils in Texas, and six regional councils were created with grantsfrom the THECB for the 2011 fiscal year.7
Page 1: Preparing High SchoolStudents for C
Page 4 and 5: The National Center for Postseconda
Page 7 and 8: ContentsOverviewList of ExhibitsPre
Page 9: List of ExhibitsTable3.1 Number of
Page 13 and 14: AcknowledgmentsThe authors of this
Page 15 and 16: Executive SummaryIn his 2009 State
Page 17 and 18: Summer bridge programs, generally o
Page 19 and 20: Figure ES.1College Readiness Partne
Page 21 and 22: lack of funding streams that reward
Page 23 and 24: Chapter 1IntroductionIn his 2009 St
Page 25 and 26: partnerships formed by K-12 school
Page 27: There is some evidence in the liter
Page 31 and 32: Chapter 2Research Design and Method
Page 33: The goal of the site visits was to
Page 36 and 37: Program CategoryTexas College Readi
Page 38 and 39: Key Characteristics of State and Lo
Page 40 and 41: equired by state law, 8 and incorpo
Page 42 and 43: ensure that every high school senio
Page 44 and 45: the summer. Staff members at some o
Page 46 and 47: these situations, a community-based
Page 48 and 49: easons to work together, policy cha
Page 50 and 51: Lack of Incentives for Community Co
Page 52 and 53: Implications for College Readiness
Page 54 and 55: programming and create a more cost-
Page 57 and 58: This appendix includes a short desc
Page 59 and 60: Length/duration: Approximately 20 s
Page 61 and 62: campus resources (including the lib
Page 63 and 64: College Connection Advisors Program
Page 65 and 66: Length/duration: The program runs f
Page 67 and 68: their personal online portfolios, w
Page 69 and 70: program are that at least 80 percen
Page 71: Appendix BScan Summary of LocalColl
Page 74 and 75: Appendix Table B.1 (continued)Progr
Page 76 and 77: Appendix Table B.1 (continued)Progr
Page 79 and 80:
ReferencesAchieve, Inc. (2006). Clo
Page 81 and 82:
Kirst, M., & Venezia, A. (2001). Br
Page 83:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating
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