The Concept

Having quality data on student progress towards college readiness is crucial for schools and outreach practitioners to make decisions regarding program changes and future growth. The effective use of data will drive changes in academic rigor and support, social support, P-16 alignment.

Strategies

By carefully charting such things as student course enrollment data and by disaggregating it by race/ethnicity, first language, and socioeconomic status, schools and outreach practitioners will have the information they need to determine whether they are providing all students with the tools to transition to postsecondary education.  Schools must look critically at the content of each class and each program. Additionally, schools and college outreach programs need to look at data about practices and structures to determine if they are providing sufficient intervention and support for students to successfully complete academically rigorous work. Specifically:

• Track graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates
• Track student completion of postsecondary programs
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of academic support programs
• Assess individual student success and conduct needs-gap analysis

Tools

• A Data Checklist
• Indicators of Social Support
• Organizational Self-Assessment: Academic Rigor and Support
• Organizational Self-Assessment: Data Use

Resources

• Data Collection and Analysis Tools

Short Examples

• Counselors, teachers, administrators, and outreach staff use a variety of assessment information including progress reports, grade lists, log sheets, GPA listings, and district writing assessments, standardized test data, and college application rates.
• School practitioners have initiated conversations with postsecondary institutions about the success of their graduates.
• Data is analyzed and discussed with faculty groups on a regular basis. For example, when the faculty realized that success on advanced placement exams was hindered by students’ writing skills, they developed an after-school writing class.

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