Graduation Rate Updates and Changes: 2010-2012

1. Office of Educational Accountability Department of public instruction Graduation Rate ChangesUpdates for 2010-11

2. New Graduation Rate US Department of Education wants comparability in graduation rates across states. USED requires all states to use a new graduation rate based on a “four-year adjusted cohort” and report disaggregated results for this cohort for AYP. New 4-year graduation rates and disaggregated results will be reported in Spring 2011 (graduating class of 2010) but not used for AYP until Spring 2012 (class of 2011). No change in 2010-11 AYP graduation calculations. Federal law allows states to also use an extended year adjusted cohort rate.

3. New Graduation Rate Four-year Adjusted Cohort rate Students are assigned a permanent cohort year based on grade level placement at the end of their first enrollment in a WI high school. Regular diplomas received within the cohort timeframe is sometimes called the “on-time” graduation rate Cohort rate first reported in Spring 2011 (graduation class: 2010); first used for accountability in Spring 2012 (graduation class: 2011) What’s different? Current extended rate formula (in use since 2003-04) is a snapshot: # of students who graduate with a regular diploma divided by # of students expected to graduate New 4-year adjusted cohort formula: # of students who graduate within four years with a regular diploma divided by # of students in the 4-yr adjusted cohort Start reporting this spring but not used in AYP calculations until next spring (when reporting on the Class of 2011).Start reporting this spring but not used in AYP calculations until next spring (when reporting on the Class of 2011).

4. New Graduation Rate  Not counted as a Graduate: Other Completion Credentials such as HSED, GED, Certificate of Attendance or Completion Students who do not graduate with a Regular Diploma within the timeframe Dropouts including students reaching maximum age, not transferred to another school resulting in a diploma, and students whose whereabouts are unknown Removed from Cohort (documented): Transfers to private WI high schools or out-of-state Students that have emigrated to another country Students that have died Students are assigned to one and only one statewide cohort based on the first time they enroll in ninth grade. Assignment to a cohort is permanent with only the three exceptions listed above. Each cohort is then associated with the four- and six-year graduation timeframes that begin in grade nine.Students are assigned to one and only one statewide cohort based on the first time they enroll in ninth grade. Assignment to a cohort is permanent with only the three exceptions listed above. Each cohort is then associated with the four- and six-year graduation timeframes that begin in grade nine.

5. New Graduation Rates

6. New Graduation Rates Beginning in Spring 2011, WI will report two rates: We are transitioning to the new rate; after this year we will be reporting two rates as indicated in chart and the “current rate” will be phased out and no longer used after Spring 2012.We are transitioning to the new rate; after this year we will be reporting two rates as indicated in chart and the “current rate” will be phased out and no longer used after Spring 2012.

7. Further Information Office of Educational Accountability www.dpi.wi.gov/oea Graduation Rate www.dpi.wi.gov/graduation/index.html www.dpi.wi.gov/lbstat/eseagrad.html www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/hsgrguidance.pdf Please be wary of similar websites that use the ‘common core’ phrase but are not the official CCSS Initiative website.Please be wary of similar websites that use the ‘common core’ phrase but are not the official CCSS Initiative website.

8. Questions