What is The Expectations Gap

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What is The Expectations Gap?

• NO state can now claim that every student who
  earns a high school diploma is academically
  prepared for postsecondary education and a
  career.
• Achieve asks What do students need to know to be
  successful in postsecondary work and educational
  settings?

• Math
• Number Sense Numerical Operations
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Data Interpretation, Statistics and Probability

• English
• Language
• Communication
• Writing
• Research
• Logic
• Informational Text
• Media
• Literature

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The American Diploma Project To restore the
value of the high school diploma

• Align high school standards and assessments with
  the knowledge and skills required for success
  after high school.
• Require all high school graduates to take
  challenging courses that actually prepare them
  for life after high school.
• Streamline the assessment system so that the
  tests students take in high school also can serve
  as readiness tests for college and work.
• Hold high schools accountable for graduating
  students who are ready for college or careers,
  and holding postsecondary institutions
  accountable for students' success once enrolled.

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My project focus Taking state temperatures with
respect ADP agenda items 2-3

• Key questions
• What courses or program of study are required to
  earn a high school diploma?
• Are state-wide assessments being used measures of
  college readiness?
• Other questions
• How do historically local control states
  utilize statewide mandates?
• What states have recently changed graduation
  requirements?
• How are states approaching Career Technical
  Education certification programs?
• What other alternate diplomas are states
  awarding?
• How is higher education collaborating with K-12
  reform efforts?

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2008 Data ADP level, elevated graduation
requirements
All math requirements include a minimum of
Algebra II
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2008 Data non-ADP level, weaker minimum
graduation requirements
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2008 Data High School Tests used for college
placement

• California
• Qualified scores on the EAP (optional 15
  questions on Algebra II Standards Test, optional
  15 questions and optional essay on 11th grade
  English-Language Arts and the Summative High
  School Math California Standards Test) exempt
  students from remedial coursework at CSU
  institutions in math and English.
• New York
• CUNY SUNY systems use Regents results to make
  placement decisions. All students must pass five
  end-of-course Regents exams in the major subject
  areas.
• Texas
• College-ready cut score identified on TAKS are
  used for placement purposes
• TAKS is being replaced by EOC exams, which will
  follow the same model

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2008 Data High school tests used for graduation

• Mandatory exit exams around the country
• 26 states currently -- or will by 2012 -- have
  high school exit exams in place.

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Looking ahead successful models

• Graduation requirements exemplars
• Arkansas Smart Core Requires 4 math, 4.5 English
• Delaware No opt-out provision
• Minnesota Aligned with university admissions
  minimums
• Mississippi End-of-Course tests to maintain
  rigor
• Assessments being used by higher education
• Achieve Algebra II test piloting and
  implementation

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Looking ahead challenges

• Opt-out provisions
• Maintaining rigor 40 failure is the threshold
• Standardizing ELA course evaluation
• Non-unified higher education systems
• International benchmarking, political changes,
  complacent states

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