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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – An Overview of What We Know Now in Washington StateMay 11, 2006

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THE PROBLEMOnly 32% of American high school students will graduatewith skills they need to succeed in college or work.

• Only 1/4th of high school graduates are prepared for college-level classes in English, math, reading and science (ACT)

• Only ½ half the graduates are prepared for college-level reading and 40 percent for math.

Out of 3.9 million ninth grade students .... (2001-2002)

...1.2 million will drop out of high school.

...1.5 million will graduate unprepared for college or work.

...only 1.2 million will graduate ready for college

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OUR GOALAll Students College Ready: Improve graduation and college readiness, especially for low income and minority students

Short-term outcome indicators: Climate-3 R’s Attendance Progression rates Achievement gains

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GRANTS OVERVIEW• Over $1 Billion in Education to date

• Major investments in Chicago, New York City, California, Ohio, Texas, and Washington state

• 1,700 new and re-designed schools in more than 40 states

• Networks: e.g. New Schools Venture Fund, New Visions, KnowledgeWorks, NCLR, Early College High Schools, others

• Gates Millennium Scholarships

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3 LEVEL FOUNDATION STRATEGYStates

• College ready policies

• Support capacity

Districts

• Alignment and options

• Effective services

Schools

• New school networks

• Improvement models

Knowledge, evidence & tools

Public will & improved public policy,

Improvement momentum

80% College Ready Graduation Rate

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STRUCTURE AND INSTRUCTION

Effective Schools

Common Focus High Expectations Personalization Respect and

Responsibility Time to Collaborate Performance Based Technology as a Tool

Powerful Teaching and Learning

Rigor Conceptual Understanding Problem Solving or Reasoning Effective Communication

Relevance Real-world Connections Student Involvement in Crafting

Assignments

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WEB SOURCES OF REPORTS

www.norc.org/gatesscholars

www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/ResearchAndEvaluation/

http://www.waedfoundation.org/

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EVALUATION• Launched in Spring 2001 • AIR and SRI

• Mandate: “Tell the story”

• Three interlocking studies:– Implementation– Student outcomes– System outcomes

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DATA SOURCES & SAMPLE SIZES (2002-05)

School TypeNumber in Survey

SampleNumber in Site

Visit Sample

Model Schools 5 5

New Schools 29 26

Schools Not Yet

Redesigned16 11

Redesigned Schools 26 16

Comparison Schools 3 0

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WASHINGTON STATE ACHIEVERS (WSA)

Middle SchoolEarly CollegeAwareness

High School ImprovementPrepares All Students for

College

College Access& Scholarships

All Students

College Ready

35+ Middle Schools 16 High Schools

+ Mentoring

500 Scholarship per year

+ Summer bridge

+ College mentor

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SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR ACHIEVERS CANDIDATES AND SCHOLARS

•College Awareness Curriculum•Achievers College Experience (ACE)•Higher Education Readiness Opportunity (HERO)•Community College Retention Activities•College-Readiness Campaign•Achievers Scholars Alumni Association•Additional Partnerships: WA State Legislation, HEC Board, GEAR-UP and UW Summer Honors Academy

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IMPROVING WASL READING SCORES: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

10th Grade

WASL-Reading

Percent Passing

Average of All Achievers High Schools

State Average (student level data)

16.8%

12.6%

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IMPROVING WASL MATH Scores: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

10th Grade

WASL-Math

Percent Passing

Average of All Achievers High Schools

State Average (student level data)

12.4%

14.0%

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% of Graduates Meeting High School Course Requirements for Admission to a Washington

4-Year College

34.1%

65.9%

34.7%

65.3%

40.7%

59.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Students meeting all entrancerequirements

Students not meeting all entrancerequirements

2002

2004

2005

Figure 12. Percent of Graduates Meeting High School Course Requirements for Admission to a Washington 4-year college

IMPROVING RIGOR: 16 ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

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“COLLEGE DIRECT” GRADUATES IN ALL ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

50%

37%

45%49% 49% 47%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

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“COLLEGE DIRECT” GRADUATES IN ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

% college direct students attending a2-year college first year

% college direct students attending a4-year college first year

First Achievers

Scholarships Awarded

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HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE PREPARATION AND ATTENDANCE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN WSA AND NON-WSA SCHOOLS: 2000-2004

• Initial difference between WSA and Non-WSA schools in 2000

• Rates at achiever schools increasing

• Rates at non-achiever schools stagnant or decreasing

46.8%

52.0%

53.3%

62.3% 62.9%

60.5%

59.7%

61.9%60.4%

63.9%

60.2%

67.9%69.6%

72.2%

69.8%69.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2000

2002

2003

2004

Taken SAT or ACT Attend 4 or 2-Year College

Achiever

Schools

Achiever

Schools

Non-Achiever

Schools

Non-Achiever

Schools

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0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

All Schools 67.60% 71.00%

Non-WSA Schools 75.00% 77.20%

All WSA Schools 57.60% 61.30%

Non-Applicants of WSA 50.20% 50.70%

Applicants but Non-awardees of WSA 59.40% 71.60%

Awardees of WSA 84.40% 88.70%

2003 2004

KEY FINDING: IMPROVED COLLEGE ENROLLMENT: ACHIEVERS HIGH SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS

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PROGRESS TO DATE:

• Increases in percentage of students passing WASL math and reading exams;

• Increase in number of students graduating with course requirements for admission to Washington four year colleges;

• Increases in number of students taking the SAT/ACT

• Increases in students enrolling in four year colleges

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2006 WASHINGTON INTEGRATED WORKPLAN

Advance the state’s college/work-ready practices and policies Support district and school improvement focused on the college-and

work-ready agenda Expand the Transition Math Project (TMP) Utilize research, communications and community outreach efforts

Strengthen the state’s support system for low-performing schools and districts Support OSPI’s district and high school improvement model Build capacity in Educational Service Districts

Strengthen alternative high school models

Inform the school finance conversation Help inform Washington Learns Look for additional advocates on school finance issues