Life After High School
Key Issues in Ontario Higher Education: A Policy Research
Symposium
May 16, 2013
Overview
What Is Life After High School?
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Pilot project that began in participating high schools in Fall
2011
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Piloted in 87 high schools with low rates of transition to
postsecondary education (PSE)
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7,500 Grade 12 students received an education program that:
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provided information on labour market opportunities and the
economic benefits of postsecondary education, choices, and costs
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guided students through the PSE and OSAP application processes
Overview (cont’d)
Why Do We Need LAHS?
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Supports the government’s commitment to increase the PSE
attainment rate to 70%
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Explores ways to increase rate of transition to PSE in Ontario by
removing barriers to participation in Grade 12
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Removes financial barriers to transition by covering application
fees for students who may not otherwise attend college or
university
Who is Conducting the Work?
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Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC www.srdc.org) and Dr. Philip Oreopoulos (U of T)
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Ran a similar project in British Columbia
Overview (cont’d)
How Will We Know If It Worked?
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SRDC will analyse:
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Data and compare changes in PSE applications and enrolment at
subject and control schools to determine the effectiveness of the
program
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Implementation successes and challenges to assist with the
design of future programming
Preliminary results are encouraging
•
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Final results (anonymous with respect to the schools) will be
available in 2015
Program Design
In-class facilitated workshops through three 70-minute sessions
Workshop # 1 (October to November):
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A multi-media presentation of labour market benefits and costs of PSE
Information about the distinctions between college, university and other
postsecondary options
Students searching and selecting from programs available at Ontario
colleges and universities
Automated provision of an estimate of students' costs and available
financial aid
Workshop # 2 (November to December):
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Guidance through the college and university application process
Payment of either the OCAS or OUAC fees
Workshop # 3 (May to June):
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Guidance through the 2012-13 OSAP application process
Video Presentation
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•
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At the moment, we are showing a video which
introduced students to the Life After High School
project. However, due to licensing limitations, we
cannot publicly broadcast this video.
Stay tuned…we will return in less than 3 minutes.
Feedback from Participating Schools
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SRDC conducted survey of educators at subject schools following
the conclusion of the program:
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“There are many situations where a student could not afford to apply to
postsecondary and LAHS made ALL the difference!”
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“LAHS kick-started kids into thinking about postsecondary options and
created more ‘buzz’ about PSE than in previous years; created an exciting
atmosphere around postsecondary options; students researched and asked
relevant questions about PSE; everyone knew what LAHS was about…”
•
“LAHS reduced students and parents anxiety about applying to PSE and
OSAP…”
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“Record number of students applying and being accepted into PSE
institutions…”
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“I just had a Grade 12 student walk up to me in the halls and say: Guess
what? I just got accepted by Fleming College! There was a big package in
the mail and my Mom told me to open it last night. I asked (him) if you didn’t
participate in the LAHS Program would you have applied to college? (He)
answered, probably not.”
Success to Date
Postsecondary Applications
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A 40% impact in combined university and college applications at these
historically low-PSE transition schools
At Program Schools
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College applications increased over 2011 - from 18.5% to 29.8%
University applications increased over 2011 - from 19.9% to 24.6%
At Control Schools
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College applications remained relatively stable over 2011 - at 20.0%
University applications increased slightly over 2011 - from 20.3% to 20.8%
Postsecondary Enrolment
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Detailed analysis to be completed over the coming weeks; initial preliminary
findings look promising, with a greater impact at the college level
What’s Next
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The Government is building on the momentum of this initial
success and has engaged SRDC to conduct a second phase of
the project
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Through Phase II, the Ministry will explore economical and
efficient models to potentially deliver the education program
across the province
Life After High School – Phase II
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Phase II builds on the initial success of LAHS by:
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LAHS Phase II will be offered to:
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Engaging with education partners and high schools that participated in the
first phase
Developing two or more models for potential province-wide roll-out
Delivering a model to participating schools starting in Fall 2013-14
Grade 12 students at 30 low-postsecondary transition high schools in
Ontario
Youth supported by the Ontario Children’s Aid Societies
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The program will be modified to measure the impact of the
application fee payment by providing fee payments to only 21
of the program schools
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Preliminary results of Phase II will be ready at about the same
time as the final results from the original LAHS study
Questions?
Comments?
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