Building a Better Future for Louisiana Students through

2. Building a Better Future for Louisiana Studentsthrough High School Redesign By Leslie Jacobs High School Redesign Commission

3. Why Redesign Our High Schools?

4. “This is not your Father’s Oldsmobile”

5. Why Redesign Our High Schools? “It can’t be your father’s high school” Today… What our High School graduates need and What our colleges and employers expect… is more

6. Jobs Require Higher Levelsof Skills and Education Two-Thirds of New Jobs Require Post-Secondary Education 2000 – 2010 Source: Carnevale and Desrochers, Standards for What? The Economic Roots of K-12 Reform, Educational Testing Service, 2003

7. Our Graduates Are Not Prepared for College February 22, 2007 Lack of College Preparedness Shocks Officials By Barbara Leader School Superintendent said she was shocked when confronted with concern by a parent whose daughter had graduated as class valedictorian… but was not prepared for college… She was academically at the top of her class, when she enrolled and was accepted at Louisiana Tech University, the girl was placed in all remedial level courses.

8. Our Graduates Are Not Prepared for College • 32% of college freshmen enroll in one or more remedial classes • 29% drop out before sophomore year • 60% don’t graduate from college in 6 years

9. Our Graduates Are Not Prepared for Work Survey in 2005 by Council For A Better LA • 70%+ employers cannot find qualified workers • 42% of employers say they cannot find workers with basic reading skills • Workforce deficit has increased since Katrina

10. Our Graduates Are Not Prepared for Work “Our businesses are in crisis. Jobs are going unfilled because of a lack of skilled workers. I hear this everyday from our members. Louisiana cannot grow and compete in a global marketplace without a much larger and better prepared workforce. It is the responsibility of our high schools to offer courses which are relevant in today’s world of work.” Dan Juneau LABI President

11. We Need to Rethink the HS Experience • HS Redesign Commission formed by Governor Blanco in 2004 • Members spent much time researching and discussing each of these recommendations • Commission members including business and civic leaders, educators and administrators overwhelmingly support these recommendations • In our short time today, I will give you only a brief overview • Our discussion is just a beginning and will continue throughout the state

12. How Do We Redesign Our High Schools? Six Recommendations

13. 1 Require Fourth Year of Math forHigh School Graduation • Only increase in graduation requirements recommended • Increases Carnegie Units required for graduation from 23 to 24 • Begins with the 9th grade class of 2008–09

14. 1 Require Fourth Year of Math forHigh School Graduation Why? • Highest level of math is key indicator of college success • More math correlates to higher ACT scores • Students who don’t take math in their senior year lose valuable math skills • Jobs require more math

15. More Advanced Math in HS is Strongest Predictor of BA Attainment Source: Achieve, Inc.

16. More Math in High School Increases ACT Scores 2006 ACT Math Scores Based on High School Course–Taking Patterns Source: Achieve, Inc.

17. More Math Required for Good Jobs Source: American Diploma Project 02: The Associated General Contractors of America

18. “We build ships and we employ iron workers, draftsmen, electricians and other skilled workers. These jobs require strong reading and math skills. I recommend that students take a rigorous course in high school because they can advance to well-paying jobs and take advantage of great career opportunities.” Donald “Boysie” Bollinger Chairman and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards

19. 2 Implement LA Core 4 for9th Grade Class of 2008 –2009 What is LA Core 4? • Recommended (default) curriculum • See binder • Requires students to complete 4 units of math, science, social studies and English • Better use of Senior year • Steers students to more rigorous courses • Flexibility to allow students to earn IndustryBased Certifications • 6th, 7th or Block • Example in binder

20. 2 Implement LA Core 4 for9th Grade Class of 2008-2009 How Will It Be Implemented? • Begin with 9th grade class of 2008–09 • All freshmen automatically enrolled • Students may opt out… • After completion of 10th grade • Must have parent or guardian permission • Must have a VALID reason • Goal: 80–90% of students complete LA Core 4

21. 2 Implement LA Core 4 for9th Grade Class of 2008-2009 To Prepare for Future Jobs 67% of jobs will require Post-Secondary education Why Do Students Need to Take LA Core 4? To Meet College Admission Standards 10th Graders who want to go to college 76% 48% 10th Graders on target for “college ready” Jobs requiring Post-Secondary Education 67% 37% Students enrolled in Post-Secondary Education

22. “We are fortunate in Louisiana to have a multi-billion dollar chemical processing industry. Jobs in this industry are in high demand. However due to changes in technology and advancements in manufacturing, a more skilled and trained workforce is needed, particularly for process technicians. We encourage students to take rigorous math and science courses in high school and then pursue an associates degree in the PTEC program at Louisiana community and technical colleges. These jobs have an average salary of $72,000 with full benefits.” Tia Edwards Executive Director Career Builders

23. 3 Strengthen Career/Technical Endorsement • Make Career/Technical Endorsement more rigorous • Increase ACT requirement from 17 to 20

24. 4 Modify the Graduation Index to Better Align High School Accountability with the Goals of High School Redesign • Recognize more outcomes than current Index • Including... • TOPS Tech • Industry–Based Certifications • TOPS Opportunity • Referred to the Accountability Commission

25. 5 ImplementEnd-of-Course Tests What is an End–of–Course Test? • Given to students at end of courses • All or part of final exam • Tests prepared by the state • Multiple choice and constructed response • Taken online • Graded quickly • Three performance levels • Fail, Pass, High Pass

26. 5 EOC Test Implementation Schedule

27. 5 Replace the GEE with EOC Tests, Beginning with the 9th Grade Class of 2009-2010 How Will It Count? • Part of student’s final grade • Accountability Commission to recommend how to integrate into high school accountability • Replace Graduate Exit Exam (GEE) • Begin with 9th Grade Class of 2009–2010 • Will need to pass 3 of 8 tests • English • Algebra I • Science or Social Studies • Multiple attempts provided

28. Why End-of-Course Tests? 5 • Aligned with Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum • Provides more consistency and rigor • Currently, LA has students failing Math GEE who have passed Geometry and Algebra II

29. “Louisiana's colleges and universities are appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the High School Redesign Commission deliberations. We are also very supportive of two particular recommendations. The first is End-of-Course examinations. As we review transcripts around the state, it is obvious to us that although courses have the same title, they do not always have the same information being taught to students. So, End-of-Course exams will standardize that and be helpful to us and to students and schools as well. We are also very supportive of the LA Core 4 Curriculum. We need to make sure all of our students are fully prepared to succeed at colleges and universities and prepared for the workforce, if that is the choice they make. Both of these are important to us and we're in support of these initiatives.” Joseph Savoie, EdD Commissioner of Higher Education Louisiana Board of Regents

30. Summary… Key Recommendations for More Academic Rigor • Require fourth year of math • Implement LA Core 4 – get as many students as possible to complete this curriculum • Implement End–of–Course Tests

31. “Only one in four of freshmen entering our high schools will graduate on time and many will not graduate at all. This situation is no longer tolerable. We must keep our high school students in school, learning and in four years graduating. Without a high school diploma they are doomed to low skill jobs and poverty. Education is their only path to economic independence and productive lives.” Linda Johnson, President, BESE

32. Increase Rigor …Cut Dropout Rate In Half

33. Demanding MoreCan Keep Students in School Source: Civic Enterprises, The Silent Epidemic, Prospective of H.S. Dropouts, 2006

34. Can Have Rigor andNot Increase the Dropout Rate… HS Graduation Rates Remain Steady or Rise As States Raise Expectations Sources: Greene, Jay P. Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates, Manhattan Institute, Civic Report No. 48, April 2006; Greene, Jay P. Public High School Graduation and College-Readiness Rates: 1991–2002, Manhattan Institute, Education Working Paper No. 8, February 2005.

35. The Louisiana Experience • LA had a unique opportunity to explore the impact of increased standards and high stakes testing and its impact on dropouts • 8th grade class of 1999: new LEAP, no stakes; old GEE • 8th grade class of 2000: high stakes LEAP; English & Math portions of new GEE • 8th grade class of 2001: high stakes, English & Math; Science or Social Studies

36. Can Have Rigor andNot Increase Dropout Rate Exit Patterns of Three 8th Grade Panels

37. Dropout Scores Improved

38. What Did We Learn?Louisiana’s Experience • Academic performance improved for ALL students • Graduates and dropouts • Improved academic performance did not reduce dropouts • It’s not just a K–8 issue

39. 6 Invest in DropoutPrevention and Recovery Implementing Prevention and Recovery Program… “Low–Hanging Fruit” Get half-way to our goal if we just keep kids who are “Basic” in English and math in school • 9th Grade Initiative targets • 40–50 high schools • Challenge – to rethink the 9th grade experience • Donna Nola-Ganey, Assistant Superintendent, • Department of Education will discuss in detail

40. “Show Me the Money” Governor’s commitment… Funds for High School Redesign and Technology • Dual Enrollment • Expanding LA Virtual School • Online student tutorials • Credit recovery and remediation • New course development

41. National Momentum forHigh School Redesign Thirteen States Have Strengthened Diploma Requirements since 2004 Eleven States Are Using EOC Tests for Consistency and Rigor

42. We Can … • Better prepare our students for college and careers • Reduce our dropout rate to prevent poverty and dependence • Help Louisiana to be a better place to live and work

43. FOR OUR SCHOOLS... It Takes Leadership to Create Change... High School Redesign FOR LOUISIANA!