Using the Right Data to Ensure Readiness for All
An Arkansas Partnership
2010 ECS National Forum on Education Policy
August 19, 2010
Presenters
Randy Zook, President and CEO, Arkansas State Chamber of
Commerce
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of
Arkansas is the leading voice for business at the State Capitol and
serves as the primary business advocate on all issues affecting
Arkansas employers. Our mission is to promote a pro-business, freeenterprise agenda and prevent anti-business legislation, regulations
and rules.
Presenters
Efrain Mercado, Director of Outreach, National Center for
Educational Achievement (NCEA)
NCEA is a division of ACT, Inc., a not-for-profit organization committed to
helping people achieve education and workplace success. NCEA builds
the capacity of educators and leaders to create educational systems of
excellence for all students. (Formerly known as Just for the Kids)
Questions to Consider
What level of collaboration do we have across sectors?
What elements of policy are critical to success?
Are we doing this type of partnership in our state?
Where are we focusing our efforts?
What are we bold enough to do?
Using the Right Data…
• This study was done by
NCEA on behalf of the
NHSC
Why was this study done?
Are all students leaving high school college and career ready?
Are they entering high school on the ramp to college and
career readiness?
For those who are not on the ramp to CCR, how far away are
they?
Is there anyone having success getting students who are not
CCR to CCR?
If so, what and how are they doing it?
What type of analysis was done?
Following Arkansas Students from Grade 8 through
Grades 11-12
2003 Grade 8 EXPLORE mathematics matched to
2006-07 Grades 11-12 ACT mathematics.
Highest Grade 11 or 12 ACT score used.
Datasets includes mathematics courses completed or enrolled in by the
time the student took the ACT.
2004-08 cohort also analyzed and yielded similar results.
What did we find?
Results for Arkansas Cohort
Percent Meeting ACT Benchmarks by Grade 12
100%
Students Meeting ACT Benchmarks in Grades 11-12 Mathematics
Based on Grade 8 Academic Preparation
90%
80%
73%
70%
60%
50%
37%
40%
30%
20%
15%
10%
4%
1%
0%
no gap
small to moderate gap
moderate to large gap
Grade 8 Academic Preparation in 2003
large gap
very large gap
Outcomes of the Study
• Inputs and Outputs
• If you enter high school behind you will likely leave
behind
• This is not just a “high school problem”
• Continuation of this study
• Focus on the students who closed the gap
• What was done?
Relevance to the Workforce
• What happens to our workforce when students leave
high school not prepared for college and career?
Arkansas Education:
A Business Community Partnership
A Presentation To
Education Commission of the States
19 August 2010
About Arkansas
• 25% of Arkansas children live in poverty. For
African-American children, the number
increases to 34%.
• 53% of Arkansas’ public school children are
eligible for free/reduced meals.
• Arkansas ranks 49th in per capita income.
• Arkansas ranks 49th in the number of adults
who hold a college degree - only 18% of
adults over age 25.
The History of Education in Arkansas
Agricultural Era
Industrial Era
Information Age
Landmark Case: Lake View 2002
• Arkansas ranked 50th in education spending.
• Arkansas children had some of the lowest
standardized test scores in the nation, and in
the South.
• Arkansas teachers were paid some of the
lowest salaries in the nation.
• On a per capita basis, Arkansas had the 2nd
highest number of school districts in the
nation.
Arkansas Academic Achievement
% Proficient on NAEP 4th Grade Math
(2000)
28
27
25
30
22
25
18
18
18
18
17
16
14
14
13
15
9
% PROFICIENT
20
10
5
0
MS
AR
AL
LA
OK
KY
GA
SC
TN
WV
MD
VA
TX
NC
Arkansas: The State Constitution
“ ... the State will provide a general, suitable and
efficient system of free public schools equally
available to all."
Creating 21st Century School System
2003 & 2004 State Policy Changes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Early childhood education
Increased per-student funding
Increased funding for low-income students
Higher standards & expectations for students
Higher standards & expectations for schools
Adequate buildings & facilities
Increased academic & fiscal accountability
Engagement by Arkansas State Chamber
of Commerce
1. Lobbied for legislation to create a Blue Ribbon
Commission on Public Education with strong business
leader presence.
2. Advocated for free pre-k for low-income children.
3. Advocated for higher students standards –
Smart Core Curriculum.
4. Balanced tax increase with strong accountability system.
– FISCAL = statewide uniform accounting system
– ACADEMIC = mandatory performance standards
– CONSOLIDATION = for increased efficiency
The Results
• 60% of students scored at grade level or higher on
the state augmented benchmark exam and the
Stanford Achievement Test (2010).
• The achievement gap between majority and
minority students narrowed for the fourth year in
a row.
• From 2004-2008, there has been a 115% increase
in advanced placement (AP) exam participation,
the largest increase in all of AP’s 50-year history.
Arkansas’ Next Challenge
To increase Arkansas student participation and graduation in
postsecondary education to meet the challenges of the 21st
century economy.
What We Know About Today’s Workforce
• Postsecondary training
and degrees have a
direct effect on an
individual’s ability to
complete and support a
family in the modern
economy.
What We Know About Today’s Workforce
• Education, specifically postsecondary education, is the
gateway to better jobs and the higher standard of living
that goes with them.
• Employee skill levels are failing to keep pace with market
demands.
• More businesses have begun to outsource more and
more production overseas to IT workers in Asia, Mexico
and even parts of Europe.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2018,
nearly two-thirds of available jobs will require some form
of higher education.
For every 100 Ninth-grade Students
in Arkansas
• 73 will
•
•
•
•
graduate from high school
46 will enroll directly into postsecondary
education
28 will stay enrolled after the first year
11 will graduate with a B.A. degree
4 will graduate with an associate’s degree
Two-Year Graduation Rate in a Three-Year Timeline:
Arkansas = 20%
National Average = 29%
Four-Year Graduation Rate in a Six-Year
Timeline:
 Arkansas = 39%
 National Average = 56%
Engagement by Arkansas State Chamber
of Commerce
HOST ORGANIZATION for NCEA’s Just for the
Kids - Arkansas
1.
2.
3.
4.
Hosted & Organized “Communities Just for the Kids”
Prepared two publications for public distribution
Annual program to honor Honored Arkansas’ highest performing school districts
Hosted Arkansas’ College & Career-Ready Summit
Engagement by Arkansas State Chamber
of Commerce
HOST ORGANIZATION for ARKANSAS WORKS 2008:
The Governor’s Summit for Education
and Economic Development
Arkansas Works: Post-Summit
Expansion of the Arkansas College & Career
Planning System, grades 8-12.
Creation of College & Career Coaches in 20
of Arkansas’ highest need counties.
State Chamber has created a
Connect2Business network to put local
business leaders into our schools to
inform and inspire students.
“We cannot ask our students to do more if we are not willing to do more.”
- Governor Mike Beebe
What does the Arkansas partnership entail?
•NCEA’s College and Career Readiness Targets on Arkansas’
state tests
•NCEA’s College and Career Readiness Charts for every public
school in Arkansas
•Identification of Higher Performing Schools
•Arkansas’ College and Career Readiness Flipbook
•Higher Performing Schools Symposium
•Core Practice Study in 2010
Arkansas CCR Targets (Grades 3-7)
Who is involved in the state of Arkansas?
•Arkansas’ Governor’s Office (P-20 and beyond)
•Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce (Workforce)
•Arkansas Department of Education (K-12)
•Arkansas Department of Higher Education (13-20)
•Key Businesses
•Walton Family Foundation
•AT&T
•Cranford, Johnson, Robinson, and Woods
•Southern Bancorp
What’s next for the partnership in the state of
Arkansas?
Core Practice Study of Higher Performing Schools
•NCEA will disseminate this study in Fall 2011
Continuing to advocate “college and career readiness for all”
•Fall 2010
What’s next for NCEA?
Research on Elementary, Middle, and High School Effects
•Study will be out Fall 2010
Core Practice Study of Higher Performing Schools
•NCEA will disseminate this study in Fall 2011
Continuing to advocate “college and career readiness for all”
•Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana
Contact Information
Randy Zook, President and CEO, Arkansas State Chamber of
Commerce
rzook@arkansasstatechamber.com
Efrain Mercado, Director of Outreach, National Center for
Educational Achievement
emercado@nc4ea.org