Regular Item (Resolution 15-10-53)
October 29, 2015
Tab 7
Consideration of student achievement awards
Brief description
Through the Student Achievement Initiative (SAI) the Board awards funding to colleges for their annual
performance in meeting key milestones for student success. The Washington State Legislature
appropriated $10,500,000 for the Initiative in the 2013-15 biennium. The Board will be awarding
$4,684,626 million for college performance in 2014-15.
How does this link to the State Board goals and policy focus
The Student Achievement Initiative is the framework that supports the Board’s goals and policy focus
for promoting student achievement and success. It is also a key component of the new allocation model
that the Board approved in September 2015.
Background information and analysis
Student Achievement milestones measure progress for nearly all students that colleges serve. The points
are used to gauge system and college progress for basic education students transitioning to college level
programs, improving college math achievement, and preparing more students for work and transfer.
Point accumulation also been used to identify where colleges are doing well in order to identify practices
that can be shared with others.
Under the Student Achievement Initiative, colleges are awarded performance funds for completions as
well as intermediate progress on the way towards completion. Funds award volume (total completions
and total points less completions) and effectiveness (points per student).
An analysis for 2014-15 performance (Attachment A) and the funding recommendations (Attachment
B) are attached.
Potential questions

How did the system perform in 2014-15?
Recommendation/preferred result
Approval of 2015 Student Achievement Funding Resolution 15-10-53
Policy Manual Change Yes ☐ No ☒
Prepared by: David Prince, research director
(360) 704-4347, dprince@sbctc.edu
State of Washington
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Resolution 15-10-53
A resolution relating to the Student Achievement Initiative Awards.
WHEREAS, the Board established the Student Achievement Initiative to reward colleges for
improvements in increasing student success and to shift a portion of funding from enrollments to
performance; and
WHEREAS, the Student Achievement Initiative measures colleges for the intermediate outcomes that
students achieve, leading to and completing college certificates and degrees; and
WHEREAS, state funds for Student Achievement were given a proviso in the 2013-15 budget to the
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; and
WHEREAS, performance for all 34 colleges was measured for three performance areas for each
colleges share of (a) total points less completions, (b) points per student and (c) completions in the 201415 performance year; and
WHEREAS, funds are awarded to the colleges based on their performance in each of these areas and;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
approves the 2015 distribution of $4,684,626 to support the Student Achievement Initiative as follows:
45% or $2,108,082 for total points less completions; 45% or $2,108,082 for points per student; and 10%
or $468,463 for completions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that 2015 performance awards are based on each college’s share of
system performance for total points less completions, points per FTE and completions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
authorizes the Executive Director to make adjustments, as necessary, for actions taken by the Governor,
computational errors, data corrections, externally imposed restrictions or guidelines, legislative
appropriation provisos, restrictions, guidelines, uniform accounting and reporting requirements, and
unanticipated changes in state or federal funding.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED on October 29, 2015.
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Marty Brown, Secretary
__________________________________
Shaunta Hyde, Chair
Tab 7
Attachment A
System Performance in 2014-15
Analysis of Student Achievement Points
Background
The purposes of the Student Achievement Initiative are to improve public accountability by more
accurately describing what students achieve and to shift a portion of colleges’ funding from
enrollments to performance. Points are awarded for every evidence-based college milestone that
students reach. The milestones begin in basic education and pre-college and include incentives
for quickly moving these students to college-level coursework. Points are awarded when students
have earned their first 15 and 30 college credits, and when they reach 45 college credits specific
for college transfer or workforce education. Returning students who continue to make progress
are awarded retention points. Points lead up to and include completion.
Funds are awarded for effectiveness (points per student) and volume (total points less
completions and total completions). Effectiveness accounts for 45 percent of funds awarded and
it also influences another 5-7 percent of the funds awarded for points and completions. Colleges
that can advance more students further will take better advantage of their college’s points
produced. Therefore this metric is critical for measuring system progress towards the Board’s
goal for increasing student achievement and success.
In total about 50-52 percent of funds are awarded on the basis of effectiveness. The remaining
funds are awarded based solely on volume (i.e. college size) under the principle that larger
institutions need larger awards in order for the awards to be relatively meaningful.
This analysis will focus on points per student. This metric captures all current and former basic
education students and all students likely to be pursuing credentials, and accounts for 90 percent
of all points achieved.
Key Findings for 2014-15 Performance
 While overall points fell because enrollments declined from one year prior, the system
improved its performance effectiveness to 171 points per 100 students from 169 points in
2013-14.
 Smaller institutions continue to perform better than larger institutions in points per
student; however, improvement was spread across 16 institutions of varying sizes.
Institutions that improve garner greater shares of performance funding compared to the
year prior.
 Across the system, effectiveness improved in completions, college math and 45 college
credits milestones.
 Closer analysis of colleges responsible for the improvements shows that they improved in
pre-college math, 15 and 30 college credit points and retention. Improvements were more
focused on transfer versus workforce students (as the latter are more influenced by the
economic recovery and work).
 Adult basic education and high school credential students along with English as a Second
Language students accounted for a smaller share of points achieved than in the prior year.
Headcount in basic education for adults dropped 17 percent, much steeper than overall
student decline. However, relatively flat FTE enrollments (not taken into account in the
SAI) suggest that students who do attend are participating longer. Transition (defined as
1
Tab 7
Attachment A
earning an achievement point beyond basic skills) was 24 percent for adult basic
education and high school credential students, the third straight year of incremental
improvement. Transition was 4 percent for English as a Second Language, a rate that has
held constant for the past three years.
College Effectiveness
The table below compares 2014-15 to 2013-14 for system effectiveness. The total number of
students decreased 4 percent, which resulted in a 3 percent decrease in their total points. The
difference was ameliorated by a 1 percent increase in effectiveness. Areas of gain were the 45
credit milestone, college math and completions.
Year
Headcount
in PPS
2013-14
290,011
69,470
35,744
2014-15
278,287
63,600
Change
-11,724
-4%
% Change
Basic
Skills
College
Ready
English
College
Ready
Math
15
College
Credits
30
College
Credits
45
College
Credits
College
Math
Point
Retention
Completion
Total
Points
Points
per 100
students
78,530
65,808
52,942
36,524
37,826
82,215
31,421
169
29,223
78,497
65,354
52,282
37,424
39,228
79,719
31,502
-5,870
-6,521
-33
-454
-660
900
1,402
-2,496
81
490,48
0
476,82
9
-13,651
-8%
-18%
0%
-1%
-1%
2%
4%
-3%
0%
-3%
1%
College Differences in Points Per Student
The chart below shows 2014-15 points per student for colleges arranged in ascending order by
college size. The system average was 171 points per 100 students. Colleges above that line
garner larger shares of that performance funding pool. Effectiveness in points per student
(moving students further and faster in the given year) also helps colleges that are above the
system average to maximize the total points they garner. To a certain extent smaller colleges
perform better in points per student.
One-Year Change in Points per Student
Sixteen colleges increased their points per student value in 2014-15 compared to 2013-14.
Improvement is critical to garnering a larger share of every funding pool as a college’s award is a
relative share of the performance of the other institutions. Improvement in effectiveness as
measured by points per student is size neutral as shown in the chart below. Colleges are again
2
171
2
Tab 7
Attachment A
arranged in ascending order by student headcount. The two largest spikes are due to coding
corrections that were applied to all colleges but were particularly relevant to these two cases.
Examples of colleges that showed one-year increase in points per student
This section focuses on colleges that improved with examples of where they increased student
achievement.
South Puget Sound Community College improved points per student by 14 percent in 2014-15
compared to 2013-14. The chart below shows changes in student headcount and achievement
points. The 45 credit point is disaggregated for workforce and transfer students.
7,544 students were measured in 2014-15. This was a 7 percent decrease in headcount over the
year prior. Despite the decrease, South Puget Sound increased total points by 6 percent. They
accomplished this by raising their points per 100 students from 174 to 199 points. Points
increased for every achievement milestone except retention. Even in retention the fall-off was
less than the fall-off in students, demonstrating that retention contributed to their overall
improvement in points per student. Most of their improvement centered on transfer students. It
started in pre-college and continued strongly through the transfer-ready 45 credit milestone and
completions. Increasing college math from pre-college to the college math point was a critical
component of their improvement.
One-Year Changes in Students and Points
South Puget Sound Community College
18%
15%
9%
9%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
1%
-2%
-7%
3
Tab 7
Attachment A
Olympic College’s student headcount increased by 4 percent from 11,352 to 11,808 students.
The college increased their total points by 15 percent, and increased their points per student from
153 to 158 points per 100 students. Olympic College made substantial gains in completions,
spearheaded by workforce students. College math including pre-college gains and student
retention all added to their improvements.
One-Year Changes in Students and Points
Olympic College
24%
18%
15%
15%
9%
5%
4%
0%
-2%
-2%
5%
-9%
Current and Former Basic Skills Students
Students are identified as current or former basic skills if they received instruction in the current
or preceding two academic years. These students are awarded one additional point for each
milestone they achieve beyond basic skills.
English as a Second Language: In 2014 colleges served 25,112 ESL students. They increased
their total points (basic skills + any points beyond) per 100 students from 195 in 2013-14 to 197
in 2014-15. Nine in ten (90 percent) are current ESL students. Current ESL students increased
their basic skills point gains from 164 to 171 points per 100 students, accounting for all of the
overall increase in points per student. Four percent of current and former ESL students
transitioned to earn an achievement point beyond basic skills. This transition rate has held
constant for the past three years.
Adult basic education and high school credential: In 2014 colleges served 22,421 ABE/GED
students. Their total points (basic skills + any points beyond) per 100 students decreased from
247 in 2013-14 to 242 in 2014-15. Nearly eight in ten (79 percent) are current ABE/GED
students. Current students had a decrease in their basic skills point gains from 153 to 142 points
per 100 students, accounting for all of the decrease in points per student. Nearly one in four (24
percent) current and former students advanced to earn college level points. This transition rate
has incrementally been improving each year for the past three years.
4
Tab 7
Attachment B
College
Bates
Bellevue
Bellingham
Big Bend
Cascadia
Centralia
Clark
Clover Park
Columbia Basin
Edmonds
Everett
Grays Harbor
Green River
Highline
Lake Washington
Lower Columbia
Olympic
Peninsula
Pierce District
Renton
Seattle
Shoreline
Skagit Valley
South Puget Sound
Spokane
Tacoma
Walla Walla
Wenatchee Valley
Whatcom
Yakima Valley
System Total
Total Award
Total Points
less
Points per
Completions Completions
Student
Total Award
$10,655
$35,877
$72,952
$119,484
$25,021
$125,823
$51,126
$201,971
$9,112
$26,858
$70,915
$106,885
$6,434
$34,489
$80,105
$121,028
$6,230
$36,838
$69,189
$112,257
$7,671
$29,360
$64,336
$101,367
$26,972
$120,030
$59,888
$206,890
$12,867
$46,103
$70,736
$129,707
$17,278
$74,280
$59,745
$151,302
$14,439
$86,446
$57,026
$157,912
$18,850
$106,857
$54,232
$179,938
$5,633
$25,284
$77,591
$108,508
$20,451
$83,044
$59,487
$162,982
$15,400
$93,330
$49,775
$158,505
$10,247
$47,765
$76,633
$134,646
$9,825
$47,013
$71,486
$128,324
$21,950
$81,600
$56,462
$160,012
$7,700
$27,735
$74,499
$109,935
$25,152
$119,213
$72,455
$216,821
$12,591
$46,127
$61,491
$120,208
$37,452
$190,620
$152,587
$380,659
$17,511
$51,460
$55,528
$124,499
$11,747
$54,097
$59,325
$125,169
$14,570
$65,428
$71,095
$151,093
$19,767
$97,415
$65,938
$183,120
$17,525
$92,773
$69,340
$179,638
$11,281
$39,076
$62,520
$112,876
$12,431
$42,376
$67,309
$122,116
$13,537
$53,354
$63,824
$130,715
$12,562
$65,117
$68,744
$146,423
$468,463
$2,108,082
$2,108,082
$4,684,627
1
Tab 7
Attachment B
Student Achievement Points
Academic Year 2014-15
Final
College
Bates
Bellevue
Bellingham
Big Bend
Cascadia
Centralia
Clark
Clover Park
Columbia Basin
Edmonds
Everett
Grays Harbor
Green River
Highline
Lake Washington
Lower Columbia
Olympic
Peninsula
Pierce District
Renton
Seattle Central
Seattle North
Seattle South
Shoreline
Skagit Valley
South Puget Sound
Spokane
Spokane Falls
Tacoma
Walla Walla
Wenatchee Valley
Whatcom
Yakima Valley
System Total
College
College
Total
Readiness - Readiness Headcount Basic Skills
English
Math
5,624
1,061
421
996
20,877
2,696
1,316
3,209
4,011
386
289
846
3,532
962
698
2,020
4,318
883
501
1,796
4,938
783
519
932
16,975
3,040
1,776
4,559
6,824
1,121
945
1,549
10,859
2,212
1,132
3,040
13,310
3,390
572
3,408
16,089
2,865
1,324
3,354
2,913
795
577
1,102
11,587
2,497
489
3,430
15,269
4,708
726
3,354
6,215
3,215
565
864
5,634
1,489
1,013
2,480
12,279
803
1,496
4,195
3,314
718
530
1,231
13,600
1,753
2,203
4,914
9,435
3,890
287
719
11,484
3,472
1,185
2,465
11,221
1,810
467
1,426
11,451
2,701
456
1,349
8,633
1,415
181
1,636
9,155
1,537
853
1,908
7,736
1,232
1,005
2,997
18,259
5,369
1,547
2,802
8,387
196
1,129
2,561
11,092
1,634
1,362
5,306
5,848
715
652
1,623
5,386
771
835
1,826
7,066
1,039
613
2,502
7,865
2,442
1,719
2,684
311,186
63,600
29,383
79,083
1st 15
Credits
1,603
5,034
979
907
1,160
880
3,540
1,760
2,158
2,870
3,848
681
2,777
2,725
1,179
1,048
2,397
781
3,704
1,267
2,316
2,256
2,462
2,095
1,739
2,123
2,851
2,523
2,734
1,181
1,311
1,747
1,562
68,198
2
1st 30
45
Quantitative/
Credits
Credits Computation
1,200
780
378
3,847
2,249
3,189
815
691
684
733
531
574
908
485
906
744
610
708
3,057
2,296
2,314
1,320
967
574
1,831
1,252
1,266
1,985
1,315
1,697
2,871
1,682
2,546
574
454
464
2,286
1,525
1,508
2,099
1,400
1,446
1,024
907
699
948
792
718
2,086
1,620
1,565
670
563
570
2,908
3,177
2,584
985
815
407
1,780
1,146
1,065
1,430
711
1,108
1,440
935
1,136
1,526
947
995
1,420
1,034
1,122
1,681
1,231
1,429
2,362
1,742
1,417
2,073
1,175
1,282
2,194
1,390
1,831
1,043
852
780
1,117
837
687
1,373
887
1,127
1,283
1,014
943
53,613
38,012
39,719
Retention Completion
Point
Point
1,290
732
5,566
1,719
1,096
626
1,005
442
1,297
428
1,149
527
5,276
1,853
1,696
884
3,111
1,187
3,386
992
4,530
1,295
800
387
3,378
1,405
3,648
1,058
1,837
704
1,640
675
3,417
1,508
912
529
4,439
1,728
1,567
865
2,830
971
2,534
649
2,585
953
2,291
1,203
2,041
807
2,397
1,001
2,896
1,358
2,481
1,072
3,535
1,204
1,572
775
1,745
854
2,206
930
2,381
863
82,534
32,184
Total
Points
8,461
28,825
6,412
7,872
8,364
6,852
27,711
10,816
17,189
19,615
24,315
5,834
19,295
21,164
10,994
10,803
19,087
6,504
27,410
10,802
17,230
12,391
14,017
12,289
12,461
15,096
22,344
14,492
21,190
9,193
9,983
12,424
14,891
486,326
Tab 7
Attachment B
Student Achievement Completion Points
Academic Year 2014-15
Final
College
Bates
Bellevue
Bellingham
Big Bend
Cascadia
Centralia
Clark
Clover Park
Columbia Basin
Edmonds
Everett
Grays Harbor
Green River
Highline
Lake Washington
Lower Columbia
Olympic
Peninsula
Pierce District
Renton
Seattle
Shoreline
Skagit Valley
South Puget Sound
Spokane
Tacoma
Walla Walla
Wenatchee Valley
Whatcom
Yakima Valley
System Total
Completion
Point
732
1,719
626
442
428
527
1,853
884
1,187
992
1,295
387
1,405
1,058
704
675
1,508
529
1,728
865
2,573
1,203
807
1,001
2,430
1,204
775
854
930
863
32,184
*Includes Seattle Vocational Institute
3
Total Funds
$468,463
Share of
System
Total
2.3%
5.3%
1.9%
1.4%
1.3%
1.6%
5.8%
2.7%
3.7%
3.1%
4.0%
1.2%
4.4%
3.3%
2.2%
2.1%
4.7%
1.6%
5.4%
2.7%
8.0%
3.7%
2.5%
3.1%
7.6%
3.7%
2.4%
2.7%
2.9%
2.7%
100%
College
Award
$10,655
$25,021
$9,112
$6,434
$6,230
$7,671
$26,972
$12,867
$17,278
$14,439
$18,850
$5,633
$20,451
$15,400
$10,247
$9,825
$21,950
$7,700
$25,152
$12,591
$37,452
$17,511
$11,747
$14,570
$35,371
$17,525
$11,281
$12,431
$13,537
$12,562
$468,463
Tab 7
Attachment B
Student Achievement Points (Less Completions)
Academic Year 2014-15
Final
Total Funds
$2,108,082
College
Bates
Bellevue
Bellingham
Big Bend
Cascadia
Centralia
Clark
Clover Park
Columbia Basin
Edmonds
Everett
Grays Harbor
Green River
Highline
Lake Washington
Lower Columbia
Olympic
Peninsula
Pierce District
Renton
Seattle
Shoreline
Skagit Valley
South Puget Sound
Spokane
Tacoma
Walla Walla
Total Points Less
Completions
7,729
27,106
5,786
7,430
7,936
6,325
25,858
9,932
16,002
18,623
23,020
5,447
17,890
20,106
10,290
10,128
17,579
5,975
25,682
9,937
41,065
11,086
11,654
14,095
34,406
19,986
8,418
Share of
System
Total
1.7%
6.0%
1.3%
1.6%
1.7%
1.4%
5.7%
2.2%
3.5%
4.1%
5.1%
1.2%
3.9%
4.4%
2.3%
2.2%
3.9%
1.3%
5.7%
2.2%
9.0%
2.4%
2.6%
3.1%
7.6%
4.4%
1.9%
College
Award
$35,877
$125,823
$26,858
$34,489
$36,838
$29,360
$120,030
$46,103
$74,280
$86,446
$106,857
$25,284
$83,044
$93,330
$47,765
$47,013
$81,600
$27,735
$119,213
$46,127
$190,620
$51,460
$54,097
$65,428
$159,709
$92,773
$39,076
Wenatchee Valley
Whatcom
Yakima Valley
System Total
9,129
11,494
14,028
454,142
2.0%
2.5%
3.1%
100.0%
$42,376
$53,354
$65,117
$2,108,082
*Includes Seattle Vocational Institute
4
Tab 7
Attachment B
Student Achievement Points Per Student
Academic Year 2014-15
Final
College
Bates
Bellevue
Bellingham
Big Bend
Cascadia
Centralia
Clark
Clover Park
Columbia Basin
Edmonds
Everett
Grays Harbor
Green River
Highline
Lake Washington
Lower Columbia
Olympic
Peninsula
Pierce District
Renton
Seattle
Shoreline
Skagit Valley
South Puget Sound
Spokane
Tacoma
Walla Walla
Wenatchee Valley
Whatcom
Yakima Valley
Total
Points
7,566
28,804
6,370
7,845
8,350
6,741
27,657
10,287
16,777
19,026
24,170
5,803
19,263
20,881
10,605
10,767
18,703
6,460
27,001
10,545
40,093
11,817
12,239
15,046
22,225
20,946
9,171
9,951
12,399
14,834
476,829
Countable
Students
3,697
20,083
3,202
3,491
4,302
3,735
16,462
5,184
10,010
11,893
15,887
2,666
11,543
14,954
4,933
5,369
11,808
3,091
13,284
6,113
27,833
7,586
7,354
7,544
12,015
10,768
5,229
5,270
6,925
7,692
278,287
System Total for Share
Total Funds
$2,108,082
Share
Points Per of
Student
System
(x100)
Total
205
3.5%
143
2.4%
199
3.4%
225
3.8%
194
3.3%
180
3.1%
168
2.8%
198
3.4%
168
2.8%
160
2.7%
152
2.6%
218
3.7%
167
2.8%
140
2.4%
215
3.6%
201
3.4%
158
2.7%
209
3.5%
203
3.4%
173
2.9%
428
7.2%
156
2.6%
166
2.8%
199
3.4%
185
3.1%
195
3.3%
175
3.0%
189
3.2%
179
3.0%
193
3.3%
171 100.0%
5,914
*Includes Seattle Vocational Institute
5
College
Award
$72,952
$51,126
$70,915
$80,105
$69,189
$64,336
$59,888
$70,736
$59,745
$57,026
$54,232
$77,591
$59,487
$49,775
$76,633
$71,486
$56,462
$74,499
$72,455
$61,491
$152,587
$55,528
$59,325
$71,095
$65,938
$69,340
$62,520
$67,309
$63,824
$68,744
$2,108,082