Preparing PA’s Youth to be Ready By 21™

1. Preparing PA’s Youth to be Ready By 21™ Bill Bartle, PA Partnerships for Children NEPTPC Workforce Development Conference October 17, 2006

2. Why is Youth Development important? • One in 7 Pennsylvanians (1,688,643) is a young person (age 12-21) • 1 in 3 lives in poverty • More than 12,000 are in foster care • More than 40,000 are in juvenile justice • More than 26,000 teens are mothers • 1 in 50 has limited English proficiency • 14% have a disability

3. Why is Youth Development important? • 2 out of 5 urban 9th graders fail to graduate from high school in the same district four years later • 1 in 6 rural 9th graders • 1 in 8 suburban • High school graduates earn three times more than those who did not graduate • College graduates earn six times more • Dropouts have higher rates of teen pregnancy, substance abuse and crime • 80% of those incarcerated are dropouts

4. Need Educated and Proficient Workers • In order to compete in a 21st century global economy, Pennsylvania needs a highly-educated and proficient workforce. • Worker shortage • Dramatic shift from unskilled to skilled jobs • High school diploma not enough anymore

5. Students need sound academic background • To prepare students to participate in this workforce, Pennsylvania must take the steps necessary to assure that all youth have a sound academic background and highly-developed soft skills. • Important issue for PA voters

6. Preparation for college or work is the same • Young people who are preparing for college or work require a similar foundation. • Same skills • Solid academic skills – especially math and language arts skills • Appropriate soft skills

7. “Gold Collar” Workers • Many of the fastest growing high-skill/high wage occupations are being filled with what are called “gold collar” workers. • Resourceful problem solvers • Job appropriate training • Need additional education after high school, but not necessarily a 4-year bachelor’s degree • Each PhD scientist requires 8 technicians

8. Current “Readiness Rate” of High School Students • Of public high school students who entered 9th grade in the 2001-02 school year, 22% failed to graduate four years later. • 50% of 11th graders not proficient in math • Nearly 35% are not proficient in reading • Students that do poorly on PSSA may not be college-ready • Manhattan Institute estimates 41% of PA’s high school graduates are “college ready” • High remediation rates for both 2 and 4 year colleges

9. What Skills are Needed?Basic Knowledge/Skills (Academics) • English language (spoken) • Reading comprehension (in English) • Writing (grammar, spelling, etc.) • Mathematics • Science • Government/Economics • Humanities/Arts • Foreign Languages • History/Geography

10. What Skills are Needed?Applied Skills (Soft Skills) • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving • Oral Communications • Written Communications • Teamwork/Collaboration • Diversity • Information Technology Application • Leadership • Creativity/Innovation • Lifelong Learning/Self Direction • Professionalism/Work Ethic • Ethics/Social Responsibility

11. Workforce Readiness Report CardHigh School Graduates • Over 40% of employer respondents rate high school graduates as “Deficient” in their overall preparation for the entry-level jobs they typically fill; Almost the same percentage rated them “Adequate” • Employers rated students “Deficient” in the basic knowledge and skills of Writing, Mathematics and Reading Comprehension • “Deficient” in Professionalism/Work Ethic • “Adequate” in Information Technology Application, Diversity, and Teamwork/Collaboration

12. Workforce Readiness Report CardTwo and Four-Year College Grads • Majority of respondents (70% for 2-yr and 65% for 4-yr) rated college graduates as “Adequate” for the entry-level jobs they typically fill • Very few rated them as “Deficient” • Deficiencies in Writing and Leadership

13. What can we do?

14. What is Ready By 21™? Ready By 21™ is committed to youth-centered public policies and programs designed to ensure that all Pennsylvanians aged 12-21 have equitable access to high quality education and support services that meet their needs and builds on their aspirations; that prepares them to earn a family-sustaining wage, be active citizens, lifelong learners, and enjoy healthy physical, social and emotional health.

15. What are the Ready By 21™ Principles? • Evidence based programs and policies that are youth centered and respond to their needs and aspirations • Equitable access to high quality education that prepares them for work and life • Career guidance based on the knowledge base of available 21st Century careers in PA that lead to family-sustaining wage • After-school programs that enhance academic, recreation and social needs

16. What are the Ready By 21™ Principles? • Opportunities to explore, build and seed a career • Comprehensive health and human services • Supports and encouragement from caring adults • Decision-making role in the design of policies and programs • Opportunity to contribute and serve within their communities • Special efforts for those who face additional barriers to success

17. Alignment with other initiatives • PDE's Project 720 high school reform initiative • Dual enrollment • Governor’s Commission on College and Career Readiness • 12th-Grade Learning Competencies

18. What has been accomplished so far? • Research and analysis • Mobilization Plan • Bring stakeholders together – Ready By 21™ Coalition • Discussions with public and private organizations, policymakers • Structured the work into four policy areas -- • Secondary academic success • Positive use of out-of-school time • Career preparation and workforce development • Comprehensive services with linkages to appropriate health and human services

19. What has been accomplished so far? • Form Workgroups to address each policy area • Issue Briefs published and distributed • The State of Youth Employment • Risk and Protective Factors • Graduation Gap • Preparing Youth for Success in a 21st Century Economy • Earned media • News stories, op-eds and editorial boards

20. Workgroup Recommendations for Public Policy Agenda

21. High School Reform • Fully fund PDE Project 720 so that every high school in PA can participate in the program • Increase funding for dual enrollment to allow more students to participate • Develop and implement a statewide informational campaign on pathways to careers of the 21st century

22. Guidance • Enhance academic and career guidance at the middle, high and career and technical schools • Provide individualized academic and career guidance for all students • More opportunities for students to learn about current and emerging careers • Provide matching grants for employers to participate in work-based-learning opportunities for high school students • Workforce Development Coordinators, aligned with local WIB, to assist guidance counselors with local job market information • Offer meaningful professional development designed specifically for guidance counselors • Develop formalized strategies to engage parents, teachers, administrators and staff, employers and other adults in student guidance • Align resources to areas of greatest need

23. Enhance Career and Technical Education • Increase rigor for CTE students • Provide tutoring and additional academic supports to students who need them • Labor market demand and industry-recognized standards and credentials • Clear ties between CTE and postsecondary education to allow students to earn credits and credentials

24. Model Core Curricula • Develop model core curricula in language arts, math, science, and social studies/civics to provide districts a tool to assure that all graduates are ready for postsecondary education, work and life • Establish a committee to work on embedding the Career Ed. And Work standards and life skills examples into the model curricula • Provide extensive professional development to educators on the model curricula • Align future teacher training programs around the curricula

25. Implement State-Level Graduation Requirements • Develop a series of state-standardized interim benchmark assessments in math, language arts, science and social studies that are aligned with the academic standards as a requirement for every student to graduate • Phased in over multiple years (at least 5) • Offered multiple times to maximize student success • Accommodations made for students with special needs • These “end of course” assessments can also be used to identify when students are prepared to move to the next level of work • A tool to provide credit recovery and streamlined completion for students who have left school and then return to complete get their diploma

26. Early Detection Systemin Sixth Grade • Develop an early detection system in 6th grade for student who exhibit the four risk factors for dropping out of school: • Attendance • Behavior • Failing math • Failing English • Once students are identified, implement an individualized strategy to ensure student success

27. Out-of-School Youth • Enhance services and supports for students who are no longer (or marginally) attending school • Develop alternative pathways to a high school diploma that: • Provide supports for students to manage life demands • Meet the same standards as traditional high schools • Provide smaller learning environments • Provide guidance to connect youth to opportunities to pursue vocational interests as well as academic and career goals • Provide flexibility to allow students to transfer, leave, and re-enroll as needed • Develop a formalized funding strategy for out-of-school youth that is community and research based

28. What are our next steps? • Are currently in the process of formally developing the public policy agenda • Strategic communications plan to create buzz around the Ready By 21™ agenda • Develop and implement policymaker education and champion plan to recruit administrative and legislative leaders to support, advance and implement the Ready By 21™ agenda (early fall)

29. Contact information -- Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children www.papartnerships.org Bill Bartle Phone – (717) 236-5680, ext. 209 Email – bbartle@papartnerships.org