BACK ON TRACK TO COLLEGE IN TEXAS

Designing schools & programs that recover dropouts and put them on a path to postsecondary success

An overview for Texas Dropout Recovery Program grantees’ new staff

Rebecca E. Wolfe, Ph. D.December 14, 2011

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Who We Are & What We Do

•JFF overview

•Technical assistance for TX Dropout Recovery Program grantees

Fully 60% of jobs in the United States will require postsecondary education by 2018

(Carnavale, Smith, & Strolh, 2010)

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BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

•Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes•Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off-track/Out-of-school Youth Populations•JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs•Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice

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BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

•Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes•Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off-track/Out-of-school Youth Populations•JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs•Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice

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We CAN Improve Outcomes

• New York City’s Transfer schools have graduation rates one to two times higher than the rest of the district for over-age, under-credited students

• YouthBuild USA’s Postsecondary Success Initiative schoolsgraduated 71% of their first cohort of students – 90% of whom are older, lower-skilled former dropouts -- and enrolled 51% of those in postsecondary education

• Chicago’s Youth Connection Charter Schools maintain an 81% average attendance rate (80% of students were formerly chronically truant ); and make, on average, two year gains in reading and math skills each year

• Texas Dropout Recovery Program Sitescollectively produced 1,283 college-ready graduates during the grant’s first two years

Back on Track Lessons Learned

• Age & distance to graduation matters• Right design or pathways combination

significantly increases positive outcomes• Accelerated learning via right combination of

academic / social supports path to postsecondary readiness

• Partnerships -- with higher ed for college and CBOs for social supports --- are critical

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The most effective Back on Track schools and programs recognize that…

…to successfully transition OT/OSY to postsecondary education

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BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

•Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes•Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off-track/Out-of-school Youth Populations•JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs•Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice

Typical Off-track PopulationsAGE DISTANCE TO GRADUATION/SKILLS

Young & Far

GENERAL: Age 16 to 18 at program entryTexas: 17 or younger

Enough credits/skill to graduate in two to three years TX: 11 credits or fewer

Old & Close

Age 18 or older Enough skills/credits to graduate in one year TX: 12 credits or more

Old & Far Age 18 or older Few credits, two or more years from graduation, at least an eighth grade reading level TX: 11 credits or fewer

Old & Very Far

Age 18 or older Few credits, two or more years from graduation, and below eighth grade reading level

Over-age, Late Entrant ELLs

Age 16 or older English Language Learners who entered the school system during high school with limited schooling and low literacy in any language

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Design Elements: Young and Far

School/ Program Design

Curriculum Postsecondary/Career Connection

Diploma-granting high schools

Full-time, daytime, extended day, and summer programming to accelerate

Organized to facilitate credit accumulation (e.g., modules, project-based learning)

Multi-year sequence of career & postsecondary exploration

Connection to internships & service learning

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Design Elements: Old and CloseSchool/Program Design Curriculum Postsecondary/Career

Connection

Diploma granting schools or GED programs

Flexible programming that accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready

Interdisciplinary curricula that meets multiple credit requirements and/or

Self-paced academics w/strategic use of on-line courses

Condensed career & postsecondary exploration

Rapid connection to postsecondary programming

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School Design Elements: Old and FarSchool/Program Design Curriculum Postsecondary/Career

Connection

GED programs with clear pathways to postsecondary

Flexible programming that accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready

Intensive literacy across the curriculum

Math catch-up GED-prep

coursework accompanied by preparation for credit-bearing postsecondary courses

Clear pathways/interim benchmarks through GED & postsecondary education and training

Career exploratory experiences and in-depth, sector-specific connections

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School Design Elements: Old and Very FarSchool/Program Design Curriculum Postsecondary/Career

Connection

Pre-GED program that leads to GED w/clear pathways to postsecondary

Flexible programming accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready

Intensive literacy and math catch-up

Transparent sequence of pre-GED academic skill development followed by GED-prep coursework accompanied by preparation for credit-bearing postsecondary courses

Clear pathways/interim benchmarks toward GED program entry and eventually to postsecondary

Employment-readiness programming

In-depth, sector-specific career experience

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School Design Elements: Late Entrant ELLsSchool/Program Design Curriculum Postsecondary/Career

Connection

Pre-GED program leads to GED-granting or diploma-granting programs w/clear pathways to PSE

Flexible programming accommodates adult responsibilities w/enough time to get college/career ready

Intensive language-acquisition help and acceleration

Focus on intensive literacy across the curriculum

Transparent sequence of pre-GED skill devel. followed by GED-prep w/prep. for credit-bearing PSE courses

Clear pathways/interim benchmarks toward GED program entry and eventually to PSE

Employment-readiness programming

In-depth, sector-specific career experience

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BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

•Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes•Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off-track/Out-of-school Youth Populations•JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs•Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice

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JFF’s Back On Track Three Phase Design

KEY FINDINGS• Adaptation of research-based work of early

college high schools and other innovators in the field

• Three overlapping phases: ENRICHED PREP, POSTSECONDARY BRIDGING, FIRST-YEAR SUPPORT

• Intensive, intentional, supported, and accelerated programming

• “College connected” designs

Building transparent and supported pathways into and through postsecondary education

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JFF’s Back On Track Three Phase Design

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BACK ON TRACK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

•Why Back on Track? We CAN Improve Outcomes•Designing the Right Programs for the Right Off-track/Out-of-school Youth Populations•JFF’s Three Phase Model for BOT Schools/Programs•Resources and Tools to Support Effective Practice

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Implementing the Three Phase Design

• WEBINAR: Peer Learning Network call: Back on Track Three Phase Model Overview

http://backontracktx.org/peer-learning-network/tdrp-member-page

**PASSWORD: TDRPnetwork**

• DESIGN OVERVIEWS http://backontracktx.org/design

• KEY ELEMENTS & OPERATIONAL FEATUREShttp://backontracktx.org/design(Download PDF)• SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLhttp://application.jff.org/shortbotselfassessment/index.php

What are some of the key features of interest on the TX back on track website for TDRP grantees?

• Resources and Tools• Grant and Funding Info. • Reports and News items• Celebrating Successes• Information for Students (and

counselors)• TDRP Networking

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www.backontracktx.org

Visit the New Website! http://backontracktx.org/

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Core Program Practices

What tools and resources are on the website to assess, support, and improve program practices?

• Staff Recruitment• Course & Curriculum Sequencing • College-Ready Instructional Practices • Student Recruitment • Student Intake • Student Engagement and Community-Building• Postsecondary Transitions

http://backontracktx.org/back-track-toolboxhttp://backontracktx.org/tdrp-institute-resourceshttp://backontracktx.org/peer-learning-network/tdrp-member-page

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Grant Mgmt., Policy, & Funding

Where can you find information on grant management and tips on how to access policy that helps support your programming?

• http://backontracktx.org/blog• http://backontracktx.org/texas-dropout-recovery-program• http://backontracktx.org/additional-funding-sources

Questions?

Thank you We look forward to working with you!