TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP GEAR UP TN

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Agenda for Today

• Overview of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission

• Overview of the current college access landscape • Overview of GEAR UP TN • Review of GEAR UP TN site selection process • Review of the components of the GEAR UP TN

proposal

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Policy Entity Higher Education Funding

Academic Program Approval Capital Spending Recommendation

and Monitoring Tuition Recommendation

College Access and Success Initiatives

Innovation Incubator Data Analysis

Program Development Capacity Building

Financial Aid Program Administration Financial Aid Outreach

Financial Aid Compliance

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College Access and Success Division Purpose

Every Tennessean should have the opportunity to pursue higher education. We create the resources and programs that transform college aspirations into reality.

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The Drive to 55

39.3% 55%

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10,545 students did not graduate high school

22,334 students entered the workforce

40,235 students enrolled in postsecondary

$9,030 average income

16% chance of earning above minimum wage

72,865 Tennessee Students 2007 Cohort of High School Freshmen

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College Aspirations

• 70% of Americans say it is very important for adults in this country to have a degree or professional certificate beyond high school

• Only 22% of Americans agree or strongly agree that they are confident that having only a high school diploma can lead to a good job

• 96% of ACT-tested, low-income HS graduates aspire to earn a postsecondary degree or credential

Gallup/Lumina Foundation, “Americans Value Postsecondary Education: The 2015 Gallup-Lumina Foundation Study of the American Public’s Opinion on Higher Education.” Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/services/190583/americans-value-postsecondary-education-report.aspx.

ACT, & National Council for Community and Education Partnerships [NCCEP]. (2015). The condition of college & career readiness 2015: Students from low-income families.

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Academic Readiness

20 20 20 19 20

36 35 34 34 35

49 48 48 48 48

64 62 62 63 63

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Percentage of 2011-2015 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Nationwide Meeting Three or More Benchmarks by Family Income

<$36K $36K-$60K $60K-$100K $100K+

ACT, & National Council for Community and Education Partnerships [NCCEP]. (2015). The condition of college & career readiness 2015: Students from low-income families.

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Academic Readiness

Only 17% of Tennessee students met all four ACT college readiness benchmarks. Additionally, only one in five Hispanic students scored at

college-ready levels in three or more subject areas, and fewer than one in ten African-American students did so.

State Collaborative on Reforming Education (2016). ACT Update: Indicators of College and Career Readiness in Tennessee. SCORE. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2mIzBe9

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College Going in Tennessee

55.7% 55.7%

57.1% 57.0% 58.1% 57.9%

62.5%

50.0%

52.0%

54.0%

56.0%

58.0%

60.0%

62.0%

64.0%

66.0%

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

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Tennessee FAFSA Filing Rates

2014 60.4%

2015 69.5%

2016 70.3%

2017 73.5%

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College Going in Tennessee’s 95 Counties

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

NATIONAL COLLEGE GOING RATE: 66%

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College Going in Tennessee

• A recent study conducted by Harvard’s Center for Education Policy Research found that among Tennessee students who are academically prepared for college, those who are economically disadvantaged are approximately half as likely (16% vs. 30%) as their wealthier peers to enroll in a postsecondary institution immediately after high school.

• Only 35% of Tennessee Promise applicants attending GEAR UP TN-

eligible schools met all eligibility requirements, nearly 9 percentage points less than their peers attending non-eligible schools.

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College Knowledge

• Low-income students are less likely to know about financial aid than their peers

• Parents’ estimation of college cost correlates with income

• Without basic college knowledge, parents overestimate costs by 228%

The Institute for College Access & Success. (2008). Paving the way: How financial aid awareness affects college access and success. Retrieved from http://projectonstudentdebt.org/fckfiles/Paving_the_Way.pdf

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GEAR UP TN Overview

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GEAR UP Overview

• GEAR UP began in 1998. • Initial federal funding level was $120 million. • Current funding for GEAR UP is $303 million.

GEAR UP stands for:

Gaining Early

Awareness and Readiness for

Undergraduate Programs

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National GEAR UP goals include: • Increasing the academic performance and preparation for

postsecondary education for GEAR UP students • Increasing the rates of high school graduation and enrollment in

postsecondary education for GEAR UP students • Increasing GEAR UP students’ and their families’ knowledge of

postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing

• 2005 – 2011 GEAR UP TN Grant • 10.7 percentage point increase in college-going rate

• 2012 – 2019 GEAR UP TN Grant • 9 percentage point increase (2015 data) in college-going rates

• 2017 – 2024 GEAR UP TN GRANT • Just announced!

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What is GEAR UP TN?

• GEAR UP TN is a state led, federally funded initiative that aims to dramatically increase the number of Tennesseans accessing and succeeding in higher education.

• GEAR UP TN is operationalized through grants to GEAR UP TN Collaboratives awarded through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

– Over $9 million in grant funds will be awarded. – Selected GEAR UP TN Collaboratives will be awarded annual grants starting

June 1, 2018, through September 1, 2024. In total, the partnership will last six years and three months.

– Goal: To systemically expand a culture of college access and success that drives increased student outcomes throughout the life of the grant and beyond.

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What Makes GEAR UP TN Unique

• Holistic program rooted in early intervention ▫ Beginning in middle school

• Provides whole grades with sustained programs ▫ Programs typically follow students as they progress (cohort approach)

• Applies research-based practices to local efforts ▫ The project is built on local needs and resources married with the latest access

and success research ▫ Robust data collection and reporting requirements

• Community and education partnerships ▫ The project requires K-12, postsecondary, and community partners to work

toward common goals • Leverages local assets and resources for sustainability

▫ Match requirement

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Award Amount

• THEC anticipates awarding a minimum of $1.5 million in annual GEAR UP TN Collaborative funding. Over the life of the project, Collaborative funding will total more than $9 million.

• THEC anticipates annual awards to total between $80,000 and $200,000. Final award amounts will be calculated based on the number of students served and the overall availability of funding.

• GEAR UP TN Collaborative awards will be calculated based on the number of students in the class of 2023 cohort at participating schools.

– Each Collaborative will receive a fixed award of $65,000 with additional funds awarded based on the number of cohort students the Collaborative anticipates serving.

– THEC anticipates awarding Collaboratives an average of $250 per student in additional funding beyond the fixed award amount. The additional per student award amount will vary depending on the number of students in the Collaborative cohort (i.e., smaller schools may receive more funds per student to accommodate fixed costs associated with implementing the project).

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Grant Match

• GEAR UP TN Collaboratives will match 20 percent of the annual grant amount in year one of implementation.

• Grantee match will increase by 20 percent of the annual grant award amount each project year and reach 100 percent matching contribution during grant years five and six.

• Grantees will provide matching funds based on their annual grant award, which will remain constant each grant year assuming all award conditions are met.

• Matching dollars can be contributed through actual dollars or eligible in-kind contributions and must support the project’s goals and objectives.

• THEC will provide Collaboratives with technical assistance in meeting the grant match requirement.

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Grant Match Example

• Let’s assume a Collaborative is awarded $100,000.

Project Year Grant Award Match Amount Year 01 $100,000 $20,000 Year 02 $100,000 $40,000 Year 03 $100,000 $60,000 Year 04 $100,000 $80,000 Year 05 $100,000 $100,000 Year 06 $100,000 $100,000

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GEAR UP TN Collaboratives

• At its core, GEAR UP TN is a partnership between THEC and the GEAR UP TN Collaborative.

• To be eligible, high schools must meet two requirements: – have a college-going rate at or below the state average, based on the most

recent three years of data supplied by THEC – have at least 50 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch

• Eligible high schools will partner with: – feeder middle school(s) with at least 50 percent of students eligible for free

or reduced-priced lunch – local board of education – at least one postsecondary institution – at least two community-based organizations or local businesses

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GEAR UP TN Student Populations

• Selected sites will serve two populations: – Cohort Students: GEAR UP TN will provide direct services to a cohort of

3,250 students, the Class of 2023, beginning in the 8th grade and continuing through the cohort’s first year of postsecondary education.

– Priority Students: GEAR UP TN will also provide services to all high school seniors at participating high schools each grant year.

Project Year Academic Year Grades Served Year 01 2018-2019 8th and 12th Year 02 2019-2020 9th and 12th Year 03 2020-2021 10th and 12th Year 04 2021-2022 11th and 12th Year 05 2022-2023 12th Year 06 2023-2024 12th and college freshmen

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GEAR UP TN Framework GEAR UP TN Framework

Rigor: Academically prepare all students for postsecondary education through rigorous curriculum and academic support.

Reach Higher: Create school and community environments characterized by expectations, policies, and initiatives that support all students’ pursuit of postsecondary education. Relevance: Connect career aspirations and skills to students’ educational goals.

Relationship: Foster connections that strengthen students’ postsecondary success.

Raise Awareness: Promote early awareness of the steps necessary to prepare for, apply for, pay for, and succeed in postsecondary education. Reinforce Action: Assist students in completing critical steps of the college-going process.

A more detailed overview of the GEAR UP TN framework and strategies is provided in Attachment A of the GEAR UP TN Site Selection RFP.

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GEAR UP TN Site Coordinator

• Each GEAR UP TN Collaborative will hire a GEAR UP TN site coordinator to implement and coordinate the GEAR UP TN project within direct-service schools.

• The site coordinator must be approved by THEC and must be no less than an 11-month employee.

• While the site coordinator will be a school district employee, THEC will have final approval of site coordinator selection and continued employment.

• Program evaluations from current and past GEAR UP TN projects refer to the GEAR UP TN site coordinator as a key component in project success.

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GEAR UP TN Commitments

• GEAR UP TN sites will: – Participate in required program evaluation activities and programmatic

agreements such as a Data Sharing Agreement between the LEA, high school, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), and THEC.

– Collect and report student and school-level demographic and academic data in a timely and accurate manner.

– Foster the development of a GEAR UP TN Steering Committee made up of, at minimum, representatives from each GEAR UP TN Collaborative member organization, one student, and one parent. The GEAR UP TN Steering Committee will meet three times per year, provide assistance in developing the annual GEAR UP TN work plan, provide community support to grant initiatives, and assist in project sustainability planning.

– Implement activities as outlined in Attachment B in the GEAR UP TN site selection RFP and as directed by THEC in accordance with GEAR UP TN implementation guidance.

• GEAR UP TN services must supplement, not supplant, existing services.

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GEAR UP TN Services Class of 2023 (Cohort)

Years of Service

Prio

rity

Related GU Focus Area

Rigo

r

Reac

h H

ighe

r

Rele

vanc

e

Rela

tion

ship

s

Rais

e A

war

enes

s

Rein

forc

e A

ctio

n

Minimum Project Services 1 2 3 4 5 6

Academic tutoring/support/workshops X X X X X X X X ACT/SAT preparation X X X X X X X EPSO expansion and advising X X X X X Credit recovery opportunities X X X X X X College access/success counseling X X X X X X X X X X Prof., peer-peer and near-peer mentoring X X X X X X X X X X X Student/family events (course selection, fin. literacy, career exploration, college match) X X X X X X X X X X X X X College site visits X X X X X X X X College Application Week X X X X X X X X X College Planning Night X X X X College Signing Day X X X X TN FAFSA Frenzy / FAFSA workshops X X X X X X Summer enrichment and academic camps X X X X X X X Job site visits and career experiences X X X X X Remediation reduction camps X X X College transition/retention programs (i.e., texting) X X X X X X X Issue 21st Century Scholar Certificates X X X X X X X X X ACT curriculum alignment workshops X X Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support X X X Faculty training (college options, fin. aid, etc.) X X X X X X X X GEAR UP TN training for site coordinators and school administrators, including National Council for Community and Education Partnerships capacity building workshops and annual conferences.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

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Work Plan Development Each year, GEAR UP TN Collaboratives will develop a plan to meet minimum service requirements and propose allowable services to meet their schools’

needs in alignment with GEAR UP TN goals and objectives.

Collaborative Planning

Better Student

Outcomes = It is our vision that schools build school community commitment to reaching the goals established through the work plan development process. GEAR UP

TN is an opportunity to align several initiatives into a cohesive effort.

These are our goals.

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GEAR UP TN Success

• While the strategies that GEAR UP TN provide are essential . . . – GEAR UP TN is about people

– GEAR UP TN is about leadership

– GEAR UP TN is about relationships

– GEAR UP TN is about student outcomes

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GEAR UP TN Proposal and Selection Process

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Selection Timeline GEAR UP TN Collaborative Selection Timeline

Item Date/Deadline

THEC releases GEAR UP TN Request for Proposals 01/08/2018

GEAR UP TN Program Overview Webinar 01/18/2018 at 10 a.m. CST

GEAR UP TN Program Overview Regional Meetings 01/23/2018, 01/25/2018, and 01/26/2018

Submission of Notice of Interest 01/31/2018 by 4 p.m. CST

Deadline for Receipt of GEAR UP TN Proposal 02/23/2018 by 4 p.m. CST

Notifications Delivered to Applicants Selected for Team Interviews 03/16/2018

GEAR UP TN Team Interviews 03/21/2018 – 04/12/2018

Selected GEAR UP TN Collaboratives Announcement 04/18/2018 Signed Grant Contracts and Data Sharing Agreements are returned to THEC 05/18/2018

Collaboratives Hire GEAR UP TN Site Coordinators 06/08/2018

Mandatory Meeting of Collaborative Representatives in Nashville Mid-June

Site Coordinator Training in Nashville One Week in Mid-June National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) Annual Conference – Washington, DC 07/15/2018 – 07/18/2018

Collaboratives Start Offering GEAR UP TN Services Fall 2018

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Eligibility

• To be eligible, high schools must meet two requirements: – have a college-going rate at or below the state average, based on the most

recent three years of data supplied by THEC – have at least 50 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch

• Eligible high schools will partner with: – feeder middle school(s) with at least 50 percent of students eligible for free

or reduced-priced lunch – local board of education – at least one postsecondary institution – at least two community-based organizations or local businesses NOTE: Applicants will provide the free or reduced-priced lunch percentage for each of the schools that are part of their proposal. THEC will confirm this data with the Tennessee Department of Education. Schools may meet the FRL requirement using the Community Eligibility Provision or more traditional means of determining free or reduced-priced lunch eligibility.

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Eligibility

• Multiple eligible high schools may partner in forming a GEAR UP TN Collaborative as long as the total 12th grade class size at the time of application is less than 400

• Schools must be in the same school district • This limit is only applicable to Collaboratives comprised of multiple high

school partners • There is no limit to the size of the 12th grade class of Collaboratives with

only one high school

150 Seniors

150 Seniors

200 Seniors

250 Seniors

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Eligibility

• To be eligible, schools must not be actively participating in a GEAR UP partnership grant in Fall 2018. Partnership grants are grant awards given directly from the USDOE to the participating school district or higher education institution.

• High schools that currently participate in THEC’s Advise TN program are eligible to submit a proposal for a GEAR UP TN grant if they meet the grant criteria. If selected, however, Advise TN schools must relinquish their participation in the Advise TN program. A high school cannot participate in both programs.

• Please see Attachment C of the GEAR UP TN site selection RFP for a list of high schools meeting the GEAR UP TN college-going rate eligibility requirement.

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Funding Priorities

• THEC will prioritize the selection of GEAR UP TN sites where funding has the greatest opportunity to positively impact student outcomes and where there is clear evidence that all Collaborative partners are uniformly focused on project success.

• Sites will be selected based on the following criteria: – documented need – commitment to implementing GEAR UP TN initiatives – strength of partnerships – plan to serve populations traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary

education

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Funding Priorities

• THEC will award two types of priority points to reader scores: – Communities that have never participated in a state GEAR UP grant will have

three priority points added to their proposal score – Collaboratives that serve schools located in a distressed county as

determined by the Appalachian Regional Commission will have two priority points added to their proposal score

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Distressed Counties

• Distressed counties rank among the ten percent most economically distressed counties in the nation and are identified through a composite measure of each county’s three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rate.

• The distressed counties in Tennessee with eligible schools based on the college-going rate requirement are: ▫ Bledsoe County, Campbell County, Clay County, Cocke County, Fentress

County, Grundy County, Hancock County, Hardeman County, Haywood County, Houston County, Jackson County, Lake County, Lauderdale County, McNairy County, Morgan County, Perry County, Scott County, Van Buren County, Wayne County

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Selection Process

• THEC anticipates selecting as many GEAR UP TN Collaboratives as necessary to serve a cohort of 3,250 from the Class of 2023 across the state. There are two components to the GEAR UP TN Collaborative selection process:

Proposal Review

Collaborative Interviews

Final Selection

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Proposal Review

• A review panel composed of readers with K-12 education, college access, and higher education expertise will evaluate GEAR UP TN Collaborative proposals for the required proposal components and commitment to the project.

• The scoring rubric in Attachment D of the GEAR UP TN site selection RFP will be used to score proposals.

• Proposals will be ranked according to the average score assigned by the review panel and selected for further consideration based upon the following criteria:

– Average score assigned to each proposal, including any applicable priority points – The extent to which the project will be successful at applying schools – The extent to which proposals represent the educational needs and geographic

diversity of Tennessee • The proposal review process will result in a list of applicants who will be

invited to participate in a team interview.

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Team Interviews

• THEC will contact the project liaison to schedule a meeting between THEC staff and a team from the applying Collaborative. Only schools that are recommended as finalists by the proposal review team will have an in-person meeting.

• The purpose of the interview is to discuss the goals and objectives of the initiative, assess mutual commitment to the project, and provide time for the Collaborative to answer questions identified in the proposal review process.

• Collaborative teams will, at minimum, include: ▫ Participating high school principal(s) ▫ Middle school principal(s) ▫ At least one school counselor who has the responsibility of working with high school

seniors ▫ Other representatives from Collaborative partners as deemed appropriate by the

applicant ▫ The ideal team will also include other key administrators and staff that principals

envision playing an important role in expanding the schools’ college-going culture in partnership with GEAR UP TN

• Team interviews will take place March 21, 2018 – April 5, 2018, and will be held in Nashville, TN.

• THEC will provide applicants with a scoring rubric for the team interview at the time of interview invitation.

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Final Selection

• Scores from the team interviews will be used to make final GEAR UP TN Collaborative determinations from among the interviewed Collaboratives.

• Schools will be notified regarding their selection on April 18, 2018. • Upon notification of their selection, GEAR UP TN Collaboratives will be

provided a grant contract which outlines roles and responsibilities related to the GEAR UP TN partnership.

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Notice of Interest

• THEC strongly recommends applying Collaboratives submit a notice to indicate their interest and plans to submit a proposal here: https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/gear_up_tn_notice_of_interest.

• Although a notice of interest is not required, submission of a notice will ensure that the identified liaison receives updates, responses to questions, and other relevant information related to the RFP.

• THEC asks applicants to submit notices of interest via the online form to THEC by 4:00 p.m. CST (5:00 p.m. EST) on January 31, 2018.

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Proposal Submission

• The grant proposal submission deadline is 4:00 p.m. CST (5:00 p.m. EST), on Friday, February 23, 2018.

• Submissions should be emailed to THEC.Proposals@tn.gov. • Proposals should be no longer than 15 pages, excluding letters of

commitment and applicable resumes. • Proposals should be sent as a PDF document. Incomplete proposals will

not be considered. • Notice will be sent to the Collaborative contact listed on the grant

proposal confirming receipt by THEC within two business days. It is the sole responsibility of the applying school to verify receipt of the proposal.

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Components of the GEAR UP TN Proposal

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Proposal Format

• The narrative sections of the proposal must have one-inch margins and the font used must not be smaller than 11-point.

• The narrative portion of the proposal shall not exceed 15 pages. The cover page and letters of support do not count toward the 15 page limit.

• Proposals must be saved as a PDF document. • The proposal sections are to be labeled and must be returned in the

order shown below: – Cover Page, signatures required – Collaborative Commitment to the GEAR UP TN Partnership – School Enrollment Information – Letters of Support

• An editable version of the proposal packet is available here: https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/college-access/redirect-college-access-and-success/gear-up-tn-2017.html

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Application Components

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/student_aid_and_compliance/college-access/gear-up-2017/2017%20GEAR%20UP%20TN%20Call%20for%20Proposals%20Application%20Template.docx

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Regional Informational and Technical Assistance Meetings • THEC will host 3 regional meetings across the state during the week of

January 22nd. • Register here:

https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/gear_up_tn_regional_meetings

Middle Tennessee: Nashville West Tennessee: Jackson East Tennessee: Knoxville January 23, 2018 January 25, 2018 January 26, 2018

9 a.m. - 11 a.m. CST 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. CST 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. EST Belmont University Jackson State Comm. College Sara Simpson

First Lecture Hall Inman Health Sciences Bldg.

4th Floor

Ayers Auditorium, McWherter Center

Professional Development Center

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Questions and Answers

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For additional information or questions, please email:

THEC.Proposals@tn.gov