Start with the Facts

Strengthening Denver Public Schools Education Pipeline

A+ Denver Colorado Childrens Campaign Metro Organizations for People

Background-Denvers Public Schools: Reforms, Challenges and the Future, 2009

Project of A+, CCC and MOP

Focused on results and strategies

Compared DPS performance indicators to state,

other urban systems Little change in student outcomes from 20002006 but began to see positive changes in recent years Instruction strategies and programs began in 2002 and 2003 Denver evolved from centralized system to more portfolio managed in 2007
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Achievement highlights- 2009

Small improvement in most grades and most

subjects CSAP Large achievement gaps with all groups strong ACT gains in short time About half do not graduate in 4yrs, bottom third of urban districts Difficult to compare to other urban districts because of no national test in Denver

State of improvement strategies-2009

Overall strong commitment to reform from

district and board DPS deserves credit for willingness to to tackle so much all at once Denver Plan- Positive but not conclusive ProComp- Positive 1st year evaluation New Schools, Performance and evaluationAwaiting higher achievement in general

Comparison Urban districts NAEP 2009 Reading (was not in report)

Urban District 4th grade change since 2002 9* 13* 6* 11* NA 4th grade change since 2007 2 6* 2 4* 3 8th grade change since 2002 0 0 7* NA NA 8th grade change since 2007 0 0 3* 3 4*

Chicago DC LA NYC San Diego

Start with the Facts 2011

Continued collaboration A+, CCC and MOP

Focus on student outcomes

Did not evaluate or compare DPS strategies (little

change from 2009 except for implementation on some like new schools) ECE to college data Pipeline data better today but still not complete particularly at ECE-grade 3 and at end of high school levels Best data for measuring quality of pipeline is college success not easily available!
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Enrollment: More Denver students attending DPS schools, but many choosing other districts
Number of Children (3 to 5 Years Old) Attending DPS Preschool and FullDay Kindergarten

Preschool increased 30 percentage points from

2005 to 2010, rising from 3,403 to 4,530 students Full day K increased 80 percentage points, rising from 4,048 to 7,297 students. 81,431 students in Denver today (high mark since 1974) 4,317 out of district students choice in while 7,732 DPS students choice out (net loss of 3,415) About 51.8% do not graduate in 4 yrs. Improvement for grad rates for those that start w DPS high schools and for 5 yr and 6yr grad rates

Denver CSAP Growth

Elementary Reading 4th grade

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Middle School Reading 8th grade

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High School Writing 10th grade

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Dropout and graduation rates

Dropout rates have dropped significantly

4yr graduation rates have slightly

improved 4yr graduation rates for students starting in DPS high schools have improved 5 and 6yr grad rates have improved

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DPS college matriculation

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DPS college preparation and remediation

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Reminder of why it matters

Each student that fails to graduate will cost the

state $524,000 in lost taxes and increased social/health costs (DPS class of 2010 will cost CO $1.2 B) 70% of CO jobs in 2020 will require a career certificate or degree Of 100 that enter CO 2 yr colleges, only 6 graduate in 4 yrs Of 100 that enter CO 4 yr colleges, only 31 graduate in 8 yrs

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Recommendations Data and Reporting

ECE to 2nd grade achievement should be tracked and

reported publically Student growth and achievement should be given equal weight in reporting Its not enough to send kids to college if they are not prepared (remediation rates are major concern) College matriculation and success rates should be tracked and reported for the district and each high school program

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Enormous Range in School Quality

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Good enough? How do we change curve? Whats working? Whats not?

2000

2006

2012
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Correlation is not Causation: Next Steps

Many strategiesfrom human capital,

???

instruction, portfolio management, etc Some strategies like ProComp have specific evaluations, most do not There is no comprehensive evaluation related to big picture improvement Whats driving improvement, whats not working? Why?

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