The Impact of Statewide ACT Testing on College Access in Colorado

1. The Impact of Statewide ACT Testing on College Access in Colorado CASE Annual Convention - July 2010

2. How do students access higher education?

3. Communicating college readiness Communicating college needs & preferences Connecting with the right college/university Accessing college admission tests Issues with parental or high school guidance Learning about financial aid and scholarships Possible Barriers to College Access

4. ACT is an independent, not-for-profitorganization that provides more than a hundred assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development. Each year, we serve millions of people in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies, nationally and internationally. ACT has offices across the United States and throughout the world. About ACT

5. Statewide Partnerships in College and Career Readiness 2009 - 2010 EXPLORE 8th and 9th grade students PLAN 10th grade students ACT 11th and 12th grade students WorkKeys 11th and 12th grade students Updated January 1, 2010

6. College and Career Readiness System Longitudinal Assessments * 11th–12th Grade Score Scale: 1—36 • 8th–9th Grade • Score Scale: 1—25 10th Grade Score Scale: 1—32 English, math, reading, science, optional Writing Test (ACT only) Career and Educational Components *Colorado administers the ACT to all public high school juniors

7. College Readiness Benchmark Scores • Minimum ACT test scores required for students to have a high probability of success in credit-bearing college courses • Empirically derived based on actual performance of college students • Established using data from 98 institutions and over 90,000 students

8. College Readiness Benchmark Scores The minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses. EXPLORE

9. A high percentage of colleges use test scores as one factor in the admissions process 81% require or use the ACT and/or the SAT in the process* The ACT and Access *From ACT’s Annual Institutional Data Questionnaire

10. When a student takes the ACT, colleges are able identify and reach out to potential students through: ACT Score Reports (sent by students) Educational OpportunityService (search) Colleges are able to facilitate access by using these to connect students with appropriate campus programs and resources The ACT and Access

11. More males More minority students More middle and lower-income students More first-generation students Result… More opportunities to increase access and participation State Testing Is a Great Equalizer

12. Comparison of Colorado ACT-Tested Juniors Before and After State Testing *Before State Testing of All Juniors

13. Comparison of Colorado ACT-Tested Juniors Before and After State Testing *Before State Testing of All Juniors

14. Comparison of Colorado ACT-Tested Juniors Before and After State Testing *Before State Testing of All Juniors

15. 13% of Colorado students who had not planned to attend college at the time of testing ended up enrolling in college the next year (18% in Illinois)* From 2002 to 2007, the percentage of CO and IL high school grads enrolled in college the following fall increased by 1 and 2 percentage points, respectively* The Impact of Testing in Colorado & Illinois on College Enrollment *2009 Case Study – Statewide Administration of the ACT: A Key Component in Improving Student Access to College and Work

16. The ACT Student Record More than a score…

17. Personal/demographic data Admissions/recruitment data ACT Scores, norms, and prediction research High school courses and grades Educational plans, interests, and needs Activities and accomplishments Overview of Student Data in the ACT Record More than 265 fields of data provide a complete student profile:

19. Colorado State University Starting to make ACT score sender data available to advising community in hopes of reaching and advising students earlier (student data can help trigger new conversations in one-on-one advising) Examples of Postsecondary ACT Data Use

20. Colorado State University Using family income data to target Pell-eligible students to inform them early about financial planning and CSU’s “Land Grant Award” Identified & contacted 2200 Colorado seniors this year 560 have applied for CSU admission 454 were offered admission Nearly 300 plan to enroll this fall Examples of Postsecondary ACT Data Use

21. Official vs. unofficial scores Email addresses Score sender & EOS release rates Caveats of State Testing Data

22. Q & A

23. Contact Information Joe Cruse Consultant, ACT West Region 3131 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 218 Aurora, CO 80014 303.337.3273 phone 303.337.2613 fax joe.cruse@act.org Jim Rawlins Executive Director of Admissions Colorado State University 1 Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 970.491.2278 phone jim.rawlins@colostate.edu