1 the smart scholars early college high school program rfp webinar – august 13, 2009 presenter:...

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program

RFP Webinar – August 13, 2009

Presenter: Joseph P. FreyAssociate Commissioner, Office of Higher Education

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Smart Scholars ECHS Webinar

Today’s Agenda

BackgroundOverview of Smart Scholars ECHS RFPQuestions from participants

via chat box

The recording of this webinar will be posted on our website:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/smartscholars.html

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Purpose of the Smart Scholars ECHS Program To increase high school graduation rates

To increase the number of students who complete a postsecondary credential or degree

Target student population: students from populations traditionally underrepresented in college

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program

In 2007, the Board of Regents proposed the Smart Scholars ECHS Program to help close the student achievement gap.

This comprehensive program builds upon programs that provide college courses to high school

students, such as College Now, Early College High School Programs, and SUNY and independent colleges and universities

the active work of the Department’s opportunity programs to assist educationally at-risk students to graduate from high

school and achieve success in college.

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Early Research

Research conducted since 2002 by the American Institutes for Research and SRI International to evaluate the Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI).

ECHSI Evaluation

Mix of qualitative and quantitative methods Based primarily on 2007-08 data from 157 Early College High

Schools Other sources also (publicly available data, transcript data,

student surveys)

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ECHS Early Research

ECHS are reaching their target populations: 67% of ECHS students are members of minority groups 59% qualify for free or reduced price lunches 46% will be first-generation college students

ECHS have high attendance rates Average daily attendance = 94% 85% progress from one grade to the next

ECHSI Evaluation

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ECHS Early Research

ECHS students are earning college credit Graduates earned about a semester to one year of college credit

ECHS students are continuing on to college 88% of ECHS graduates enrolled in college the next fall

41% chose to attend four-year institutions 47% chose to attend community colleges

ECHSI Evaluation

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - Overview

Partnerships of public schools, BOCES, or charter schools with institutions of higher education will establish approximately 23

Smart Scholars Early College High Schools (ECHSs).

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - Overview

Partnerships of the following entities are eligible to respond to the RFP:

Public Schools, especially high or very high need *

Public IHEs (SUNY/CUNY)

BOCES Partnering With Independent IHEs

Charter Schools Proprietary IHEs

Community-based organizations (CBOs) can participate in the partnership, but cannot be an applicant

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - DefinitionsLEA = local education agency

Public schools, BOCES and charter schools within NYS

Preference will be given to LEAs classified as “high need” or “very high need” for the purposes of this RFP.

* RFP definitions

High Need = a school that had an Overall State Accountability Status in 2008-09 of Requiring Academic Progress - Year 1 through Year 6.

Very High Need = a school that had an Overall State Accountability Status of Requiring Academic Progress Year 7 or above or was identified as a School Under Registration Review (SURR).

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - Definitions To find listing of High Need Schools:

Clicking on this link and look under Column L within the MS Excel file:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/APA/Differentiated_Accountability/DiffAccProsStatus2010.07022009.xls

This information can also be found on the Differentiated Accountability webpage of the NYSED website:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/APA/Differentiated_Accountability/DA_home.html

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - Definitions

To find a listing of Very High Need Schools:

Clicking on this link and look under Column L within the MS Excel file, for schools Requiring Academic Progress – Year 7:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/APA/Differentiated_Accountability/DiffAccProsStatus2010.07022009.xls

Also, Appendix D-2 in RFP contains a listing of Schools Under Registration Review (SURR) (in Tables A-C), which are considered “very high need” schools.

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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - Definitions

IHE = institutions of higher education SUNY, CUNY, independent and proprietary colleges and universities 2- & 4-year Must be accredited, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ Programs must be registered by NYSED, Office of College and

University Evaluation, http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/

CBO = community-based organization Private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization Representative of a community Provides educational and/or human services May be a partner but cannot be an applicant

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Overview of the RFP – Mandatory Requirements

College credits must be transferable to the partnering IHE Completed or “in development” articulation agreements or letters

of intent must be submitted with proposal

MOUs (executed or in development) or letters of intent outlining the roles and responsibilities between the LEA, IHE and CBO (if applicable) must accompany proposal

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Overview of the RFP – Eligibility Requirements All public schools (especially high need/very high need schools),

charter schools and BOCES in NYS, and eligible public, independent and proprietary institutions may respond to RFP.

Existing ECHS may respond to this RFP; however, proposal must illustrate a new or expanded level of service, and/or the ability to serve more students.

Partnerships must provide strategies designed to seek financial stability for the long-term operation of the Smart Scholars ECHS.

CBOs can participate in partnerships, but cannot be an applicant.

Contracts may be awarded to achieve geographic distribution of awards.

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Overview of the RFP – Eligible Activities – Pre-Opening Planning Phase Hiring a program director/school leader/principal and staff

Developing a budget and business plan

Establishing a suitable site/facility for the school

Writing MOUs/letters of intent between the IHE and the LEA, including transfer of earned credits to the IHE partner (MOUs in development and draft letters of intent are acceptable)

Designing an aligned curriculum, standards and a sequence of courses that allow students to earn an average of 20 or more college credits while completing high school and required Regents exams

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Overview of the RFP – Eligible Activities – Pre-Opening Planning Phase Conducting outreach activities to staff and families at nearby middle

and elementary schools, as well as to community-based organizations

Establishing student recruitment and selection criteria

Coordinating high school and college faculty, support services, calendars, transportation and establishing on-going governance structures

Developing assessment tools and instruments to evaluate college-readiness, student outcomes and program success, to make improvements, and to refine the assessment model throughout the development of the Smart Scholars ECHS partnership schools.

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Overview of the RFP – Eligible Activities – Implementation Phase Academic and social support services

Data collection, sharing, reporting, and evaluation

Student recruitment, community education and engagement

Joint professional development for high school and college faculty

School design and planning team activities (e.g. curriculum development)

Support for college-high school partnership liaisons

Travel and fees for relevant professional development

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Contract Period

Two cohorts of ECHS partnerships - Planning phase for first cohort begins December 1, 2009, to

enroll students in September 2010 Planning phase for second cohort begins September 1, 2010, to

enroll students in September 2011

Two separate RFPs will result in contracts and grants for a period of four years each

It is anticipated that $12,000,000 for the two cohorts will be available for the total Smart Scholars Early College High School Program

It is anticipated that Gov. David Paterson will seek legislative approval in the 2010-2011 State budget process for a second infusion of $6,000,000 to sustain the second cohort

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Overview of the RFP-Required Elements of Proposal NarrativeThe Proposal Narrative –

Proposal Summary: limited to a single, letter-sized page, font no less than 11 point

Proposal Narrative: limited to 25 pages, 1 inch margins, how the partnership will address the following:

Target Population: must provide college-ready courses to students in high need/very high

need schools in grades 9 - 12 may serve grades 6 – 8 with academic and college readiness support target and enroll students who are at risk of dropping out of school

(economically disadvantaged, English language-learners, and first-generation college entrants)

ECHS must be small, we anticipate serving no more than 100 students or less per grade level

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Overview of the RFP-Required Elements of Proposal Narrative P-16 Partnership

Defined roles of partners Plans for articulation of credit between LEA(s) and IHE(s) Evidence of long-term financial stability of Smart Scholars ECHS Evidence of an active partnership, including joint decision-making

procedures Opportunities for teachers and IHE faculty to collaborate through

planning, teaching, and professional development. Confirmation that only accredited colleges with programs registered

by NYSED, Office of College and University Evaluation will award college credit and degrees, http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue

Engagement of parents, student care givers, school leaders, local community organizations

Evidence that LEA is high/very high need, if applicable

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Overview of the RFP- Required Elements of Proposal Narrative

Curriculum and Academic Rigor Provide the plans for developing a detailed, multi-year, vigorous

curriculum

Students receive Regents diplomas and an average of 20 or more college credits

Courses are aligned with higher level courses at partner IHE Provide pathways to an associate or baccalaureate degree

Evidence of capacity to assess college readiness of each incoming student

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Overview of the RFP- Required Elements of Proposal Narrative School Design

must be an autonomous high school that is located on the IHE partner’s campus, is a stand-alone high school near a college or university

campus, or is a small learning community within a larger high school

that is near a college or university campus

must be a full-day program

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Overview of the RFP-Required Elements of Proposal Narrative Support Structures – What will a Smart Scholars ECHS look like?

Provide plans for:

Strategies that foster a college-going culture Bridge programs, college activities and visits

Personalized learning environment and support services Tutoring, mentoring

Social and emotional support services Advisory structures, personalized learning communities, individual

graduation plans, guidance and counseling Access to IHE facilities, resources, and services

University faculty, libraries, science labs, technology, writing centers, artistic and sports facilities and activities

Substantial parental and community involvement Activities designed to encourage high school completion and success

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Overview of the RFP-Required Elements of Proposal

Staffing P-12 teachers and college faculty have

the appropriate background to deliver specific college courses and the ability to provide accelerated instruction to students at risk of not graduating from high school

Common planning time for instructional staff and others, including school leaders and IHE faculty

Teacher support and guidance through teacher mentoring, professional development, and induction programs

Job description and plans for a qualified principal/school leader/program director

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Overview of the RFP-Required Elements of Proposal Narrative Budget

Demonstrate how contract funds will be spent, consistent with eligible costs that may include, but are not limited to: Tuition and fees Textbooks College liaisons Support for high school and college staff collaborations

Discuss and justify all costs requested in the Cost Proposal RR Fiscal Form FS-10 Proposed Budget

Budget must not include any cost to students

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Summary of Submission Documents - to be submitted with proposal Specific submission documents in the following categories are listed in the

RFP and must be submitted with the proposal:

Staffing and Management

Partnership Agreements and Partner Profiles

Student and Community Outreach

Curriculum

Student Support Structures

Budget and Sustainability

Signed Ability to Meet Mandatory Requirements form

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Subcontracting and Staff Changes

Subcontracting

Will be allowed

Staff Changes

Must inform USNY of any changes in staffing among partners

All staff changes are subject to the approval of USNY

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Overview of the RFP-Evaluation Criteria - Technical (75-85 points) P-16 Partnership (30-40 points)

Breadth & depth of bidder’s commitment to ECHS concept and viability of the project (10 points max)

Student, faculty, staff recruitment planning; strategy for engaging CBOs (10 points max)

Completed or in development articulation agreements with IHEs outside of partnership (10 points max)

LEA is a “high need school” (5 bonus points) LEA is a “very high need school” (10 bonus points)

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Overview of the RFP-Evaluation Criteria - Technical (75-85 points) Curriculum, Academic Rigor & Support (30 points)

How a Regents diploma and an average of 20 credits can be earned by each Smart Scholars ECHS student (10 points max)

Plans yield a rigorous, high quality, full-day curriculum (10 points)

Use of authentic and comprehensive measures of assessment (5 points max)

Academic and social support network (5 points max)

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Overview of the RFP-Evaluation Criteria - Technical (75-85 points) Staffing and Management (15 points)

Soundness of the staffing and management plan, defined roles of each partner and participant, plans to serve no more than 100 students (7 points max)

Teachers have the background to deliver college-level courses and accelerated instruction to students at risk of not graduating from high school (6 points max)

Professional development opportunities for teachers and faculty (2 points max)

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Overview of the RFP-Evaluation Criteria – Financial Criteria (25 points) Proposal Narrative and Budget are in agreement, cost justified and

cost effective (7 points max)

Cost per pupil provided and appropriate – regional consideration given (9 points max)

Workable plan to help sustain Smart Scholars ECHS after the grant period (9 points max)

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Overview of the RFP- Method of Award Aggregate score will be calculated

Minimum score 70 points

If more than one proposal obtains the same aggregate score and there are insufficient funds to award all proposals, the contract(s) will be awarded to the proposal(s) with the highest technical score

USNY reserves the right to cancel the RFP if it is in the best interest of the University

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Timeline

Proposals must be postmarked by October 1, 2009

Applicants will be informed by November 1, 2009

Partnership Cohort 1 start date: Planning Period: December 1, 2009 Student Entry: September 1, 2010

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Intermediary

Intermediary: a nonprofit research and consulting organization that has demonstrated experience in the

recruitment of qualified educators development of academic support services for college readiness curriculum development development, implementation and evaluation of assessment tools ECHS framework

Intermediary will promote best practices across the schools coordinate statewide leadership training opportunities import and translate best practices from other states

One intermediary will be selected through a separate RFP process

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Intermediary Timeline

Timeline for selection of intermediary

Intermediary RFP Webinar – tentatively scheduled for August 31, 2009

Proposals must be postmarked by November 1, 2009

Applicants will be informed by December 1, 2009

Intermediary will be ready to begin work with selected partnerships on December 15, 2009

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Interested in being an intermediary?

If there are any organizations participating in this webinar that are interested in applying as an intermediary, contact us and we will put you on our mailing list:

[email protected]

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Q & A

At this time, questions will be taken using the chat feature.

We will give you a few moments to type in your questions, and address them in the order that they are posted.

A link to the recording of this webinar and all questions and answers will be posted to the following website:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/smartscholars.html

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Questions

Questions must be submitted to: [email protected]

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Thank you for attending the

Smart Scholars ECHS Program

Webinar

1 the smart scholars early college high school program rfp webinar – august 13, 2009 presenter:...

Documents

smart scholars echs

college slide

echs graduates

high school students

college courses

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college credit graduates

high school graduation