A Rubric for Success:Ten traits for college completion

NPEA ConferenceApril 20, 2012

Workshop Objectives

• Understand the “soft skills” and behaviors required for college success

• Build motivation to use College Success Rubric as a tool for improving students’ college-readiness

• Create (or borrow!) at least one new strategy for developing students’ college success traits

History of PAI

The racial and economic turmoil of the late 1960’s left our nation’s youth alienated and disillusioned.

The school system seemed to have no relevance for most youth and the drop out rates rose as high as 50% in some high schools.

Philadelphia 1969

Charles Bowser, Deputy Mayor and Executive Director ofthe Urban Coalition

Civic leader Charles Bowser brought business into the schools in a program that engaged both the student and the business partner in meaningful ways.

“I called them ‘Academies’ because it sounded special

and I wanted the kids to feel like they mattered.”

Career Academy Definition

• A small learning community of about 300 students, typically within a large high school, and themed to a career

• Students scheduled together over at least two years with a team of academic and technical teachers

• Partnerships with employers, the community, and local colleges that bring resources from outside the high school to improve student motivation and achievement

The Need for a College Focus

Pipeline to College Graduation

for First-time 9th Graders of 1999-2000School District of Philadelphia, Office of Accountability, January 13, 2010

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20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

100%

0% 0% 0%

0%

48%

23%10%

0%

10%

1%

1%

Students Graduating from High School in Five to Six Years

Four-year On-time High School Graduates

1999-2000 9th Graders

Our Charge

Do better not simply in preparing students to ACCESS college – to enter the doorway – but to SUCCEED there and ultimately GRADUATE

Crossing the Bridge

1. What was your biggest challenge in making the transition to college?

2. What strategies did you use to overcome the challenge?

3. What did you wish you had known or been able to do to help navigate in

new territory?

A Key to College Readiness

A Dilemma

A Proposal

COLLEGE SUCCESS RUBRIC

Ten traits for college completion

What We’ve Found• Employers like it

o Independence Blue Cross found it aligns with their employee competencies and new employee training

• Educators see links to other tools and assessmentso ASCA’s National Standards for Studentso States’ efforts to define and assess college readinesso Employability Skills Inventory, John J. Liptak, Ed.D.

• College Students validate it

Using the Rubric• Think of a typical college-going student with whom

you are working

• Read the rubric with that student in mind (8 min)

• Reflect upon:o How would your student rate on each trait?o In which trait is he/she strongest? weakest? o How do you know? Cite behaviors.

Reflection

o As a group, where do we see students exhibiting the most strength? The most weakness?

oWhat should be our highest priority traits to work on developing with students?

Developing Competencies

• What can we do as educators to move students to the next level?

• Describe an activity that you have done or could do to help build one or more of the College Success traits

Our Next Steps • Create online simulations for

self-assessment and badges foraccomplishments

• Embed its competencies into workshop plans and pre/post tests

• Establish priorities or relationships among the traits

Professional Network

• Share how we use the rubric

• Receive updates on associated tools

• Rubric is online at www.academiesinc.org

Contact Me

Jennifer Binzen CardosoAssistant Director, Learning & InnovationPhiladelphia Academies, Inc.215-546-6300, ext. 122jbcardoso@academiesinc.org