Higher Education in Illinois Conversation with the Illinois

Higher Education in Illinois Conversation with the Illinois P-20 Council March 23, 2010

Illinois Higher Education: A Partnership Illinois Board of Higher Education Judy Erwin, Executive Director Debbie Meisner-Bertauski & Candace Mueller Illinois Community College Board Geoff Obrzut, President & CEO Elaine Johnson & Karen Hunter-Anderson Illinois Student Assistance Commission Andy Davis, Executive Director Ginger Ostro 2

The Global Economy & The Higher Education International Perspective Percent of Adults with Associates Degrees or Higher by Age-Group Leading OECD Countries and the U. S. (2006) Source: OECD, Education at a Glance (2008) 3

National Goal President Obama has set the goal: “By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. ” February 24, 2009 Education Secretary Arne Duncan is leading the charge: “…I have visited 23 states and met countless students, teachers, parents and administrators. They are hungering for change. I've seen districts and high-performing schools that are closing achievement gaps, raising graduation rates, and sending disadvantaged young people to college with scholarships in hand. ” July 24, 2009 4

Major Foundation Goals Lumina’s “big goal”: “To increase the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025” Gates Foundation Goal: “Postsecondary education can be a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or a certificate. Double the number of low-income adults who earn a college degree or credential with genuine marketplace value by age 26. ” 5

Complete College America Goal Complete College America (CCA)-the only national organization focused solely on supporting states to dramatically improve college completion rates. Illinois is one of 18 states in CCA Alliance partnering with 5 leading education foundations. “Now is not too soon to close the attainment gaps for underserved citizens, and to increase the number of American achieving college and career success. ” Gov. Pat Quinn Jan. 29, 2010 6

How Does Illinois Measure Up?

Large portions of the state have less than 50% college completion Regional Gaps in College Attainment Hamper Economic Growth Percent of population, 25 -64, with associate’s degree or higher. Regional variations in college credentials show large gaps — and opportunities — in raising the level of educational attainment in Illinois. Source: 2006 ACS (PUMS) 8

College and Career Readiness: Statement of the Problem 9

College and Career Readiness: Statement of the Problem An average of 50% of first-time, full-time community college students are required to take at least one remedial course; the figure rises to 80% in some college districts. As a result of their responsibility for remedial/developmental education, community colleges spent $120. 8 million in FY 2007. Public universities spent $5. 2 million. More than 1. 4 million Illinois adults, or 15% of the adult population 18 years of age and older, do not possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and approximately 2. 53 million Illinois residents speak a language other than English as the primary language in their homes. 10

Affordability: Statement of the Problem Lowest Income Students Do Not Complete College 11

The Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success A blueprint to guide P-20 education policy for the next decade Goal 1: Increase educational attainment to match bestperforming states Goal 2: Ensure college affordability for students, families and taxpayers Goal 3: Increase the number of high-quality postsecondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society Goal 4: Better integrate Illinois’ educational, research and innovation assets to meet economic needs of the state and its regions 12

Illinois’ Action Steps Supporting College and Career Readiness Initiatives Focusing on Affordability for Postsecondary Education Emphasizing Student Success and Completion Fostering Accountability through the P-20 Data System 13

College and Career Readiness Ø Teacher and School Leader Quality Ø The IBHE and ISBE have led the effort to redefine preparation programs for principals and are undertaking the review of teacher education programs. Ø American Diploma Project / Common Core Standards Ø ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE are participating in two national initiatives to create common learning standards for K-12 and for entry into college. Ø College and Career Readiness Act Ø The ICCB led the development of readiness interventions designed to address remediation needs of students prior to their entry into postsecondary education. Ø Perkins Programs of Study (POS) Ø The ICCB and the ISBE are implementing aligned and articulated high school to postsecondary curricula that integrates academic and technical content aimed at reducing student time to credential or degree. 14

College and Career Readiness Ø Bridge Programs Ø The ICCB is implementing contextualized courses designed to prepare low-skill, low-income adults to enter postsecondary education and to prepare for employment. Ø Dual Credit Ø Academically qualified students get both college and high school credit for a course. Illinois community colleges supported 80, 324 students in dual credit courses during FY 2009. Enhance Student Services Ø College and community resources are being connected to ease the transition to postsecondary education, including for special populations such as veterans and students with disabilities. 15

College and Career Readiness Ø Adult Education Transition Programs Ø Specialized courses and services assist dislocated workers and other adult education learners with gaining both the academic and college readiness skills needed to transition successfully to postsecondary education. Ø Technology Ø Through web-based programs such as Illinois Community colleges Online (ILCCO), GED-I, and the Career and Academic Readiness System (CARS) , students have access to individualized instruction to reinforce college readiness skills and to reduce the need for remediation. 16

Affordability Need-based assistance Monetary Award Program (MAP) provides $400 million of needbased assistance to 140, 000 students per year MAP Capital Investment Bond Proposal will leverage earning power of community college students to expand access to MAP grants Prepaid College Tuition College Illinois! prepaid college tuition program helps families secure college by investing now Over $1 billion in assets; 55, 000 accounts Outreach and Early Intervention ISACorps near-peer mentors help first-generation students enroll in college ISAC/CPS partnership increases FAFSA completion to help more students access financial aid 17

Student Success and Completion Improve transitions along the pipeline Ø Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI). Ø Statewide effort based upon the acceptance of the General Education Core Curriculum that smooths transfer for students from community college to four-year institution. Ø U. select. Ø Tool that allows students to see how their actual coursework will transfer to a selected institution. Ø www. itransfer. org. Ø One-stop portal for students, faculty, parents and administrators to access their transfer needs. 18

Student Success and Completion Improve transitions along the pipeline Ø GED Preparation Programs Ø Prepare students to complete their GED, moving them further along the pipeline Ø Bridge Programs Ø Student success is made more relevant by being to tied occupational goals from the onset of a student’s academic career. Ø Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Ø Students come to college with credits, saving them money and time. Ø College and Career Readiness programs Ø Interventions save students time that would otherwise be spent in developmental courses, costing financial aid and more time to degree. Ø Baccalaureate Completion Programs Ø Allow underserved areas access to degree programs that might otherwise be out of their reach geographically. 19

Student Success and Completion Complete College America Illinois is an Alliance member Partnership with Illinois’ P-20 community is essential Commitment to set degree goals at state and campus levels Establish common measures of progress and publicly report results annually Develop and implement action plans to graduate more students 20

Accountability Monitoring performance and success § § § High School to College Success Report P-20 Longitudinal Data System Illinois Public Agenda performance reporting Complete College America annual reporting Evaluations of Pilots and Demonstration projects Negotiating and reporting federal performance measures for Perkins Postsecondary and Adult Education 21

Strong United Message Ensuring the success of Illinois’ students Excellent Early Childhood education +Excellent K-12 education +Excellent Postsecondary education +Excellent Career & Technical education +Excellent Business & Industry training +Excellent Adult Education system Illinois’ Economic Success 22

Why is the P-20 Council important in achieving these action steps? Continuity of Purpose Advocacy Focus Connectivity Prioritization Provide a public face on issues 23

Illinois P-20 Council Higher Education Partners www. ibhe. org www. iccb. org www. collegezone. com 24