Drive to 55: Transforming Tennessee's Educational Landscape

Learning and Earning: Five Years of Drive to 55 and Tennessee Promise

About Me: Born and raised in rural Appalachian Southern Ohio Dreamland-Sam Quinones Hillbilly Elegy- J.D. Vance A&E documentary on Portsmouth, Ohio Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Single Mom Researching rural Appalachian social capital for nearly 20 years

Who is in the room? What is your role? What state? What sector? Education Heath Care Economic Development Etc.

Disclosures What this session is NOT investigating: Gender SES Race/Ethnicity Learning Support Location (urban vs. rural)

Disclosures This session will be looking at comparative quantitative data that crosses the TN Promise timeline. We will openly discuss the impact of these programs. Statements made during this presentation represent my own opinions and research and not do not reflect any position or opinion of THEC/TSAC or the state of Tennessee.

Background

Current THEC/TSAC Efforts

The Drive to 55 our states 2014 campaign to increase educational attainment in Tennessee from 32% to 55% by the year 2025 - was comprised of five strategies: Tennessee s current educational attainment rate hovers around 40%!!

Five Strategies for Success 1. Better prepare students for college while they are still in high school. 2. Get students into college. Increase access and affordability. 3. Get students out of college in a timely fashion, with a degree or credential. 4. Help adults with some college and no degree go back and finish. 5. Create alignment and accountability across state agencies, educational institutions, and employers.

Strategy 1: Better prepare students for college while they are still in high school. Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) Dual Enrollment College Success Online Course

Strategy #2 Get students into college. Increase access and affordability. TN Promise - To reach 55%, Tennessee needs to produce an additional 494,000 degrees, of which technical certificates and two-year degrees are a key part.

Strategy #3 Get students out of college in a timely fashion, with a degree or credential. Degree Compass SAILS Structure of Certifications

Strategy #4 Help adults attain a postsecondary credential. Tennessee Reconnect Pilot Community College Program TCAT Community College

Strategy #5 Create alignment and accountability across state agencies, educational institutions, and employers. Tennessee LEAP (Labor Education Alignment Program) Work Ethic Diploma

Tennessee Promise Last dollar scholarship applied to tuition and mandatory fees when students choose to attend Community Colleges, TCATS and some four year public and private institutions. Mentoring component to assist students with enrollment navigation and increase student success. No academic or need-based eligibility requirements.

Quantitative analysis of outcomes based evaluation TN Promise began with the graduating class of 2015 Has it accomplished its mission to increase the number of degrees and credentials among Tennesseans? Compared data beginning in 2010 to determine if there have been increases.

16206 enrolled

Percent enrolled Percent retained 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 31% 32% 23% 24% 25% 2012/13 56% 2013/14 58% 2014/15 59% 2015/16 72% 2016/17 73%

School Counselor Survey This data is from a doctoral project to gauge the impact of TN Promise on school counselors It was not designed or implemented by THEC/TSAC Give voice to those held accountable Solicit feedback on TN Promise

Partnering Organization Models PO s receive no funding from the state or from Lottery surplus All are self-funded, non-profit organizations Role of the partnering organization is to serve as the state s front-facing representatives

Partnering Organization Models Ayers Foundation Serves 5 counties-1 of which is Appalachian Places a paid full time College Access Professional in the school Works exclusively on Career and College activities and helps students fulfill TN Promise requirements Manages all mentoring and community service aspects Develops relationship with all students serving as mentor

Partnering Organization Models REDI (Regional Economic Development Initiative) Serves parts of Southwest TN Places a paid full time College Access Professional in the school Works exclusively on Career and College activities and helps students fulfill TN Promise requirements Manages all mentoring and community service aspects Develops relationships with all students serving as mentor

Partnering Organization Models TN Achieves Serves 84 counties in TN (will serve 90 effective 7/1/19) Uses volunteer community mentors to assist students with the career and college going process and TN Promise requirements Schedules mandatory meetings in each school Introduces mentors and students in spring term

Data feedback from 54 school counselors and college access professionals. All of the responses were from schools under a single Partnering Organization model.

A College Access Professional can assist students with career and college advising and applications. The position does not require Master s degree training or school counselor certification. Therefore, having one in the school can relieve school counselors to do more social-emotional and behavioral counseling. Tennessee has many non- profit organizations and grant funded placements of College Access Professionals.

Qualitative Contributions What positives have been reflected due to Tennessee Promise? Nearly 80% of respondents felt like TN Promise had increased students knowledge of a tuition free option if needed. 75.51% felt like it provided an opportunity for students that did not have high academic scores, Reoccurring opinions included affordability, additional assistance due to state expectations, and family support due to affordability.

Qualitative Contributions What negative consequences, if any have you experienced due to Tennessee Promise? Key concept Under matching Low academic achievement Lack of college research Forced to apply Number of occurances 8 6 5 6

field first time freshman CC Fall to Fall Retention previous year total degree/cert. at CC 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 18732 17246 17124 17379 20113 8959 8307 7838 7949 8136 11116 17789 15312 15162 15641 22184 11261 16147 20770 10910 16537 21163 enrolled at TCAT degree and certificate completion at TCAT 31198 15202 31366 13777 28951 12830 28492 12914 29478 13798 30668 14096 30633 13884 Adult Freshman Reconnect applications adult degree or certificate recipients 15838 31024 20440 6514 9769 8829 8306 NA 7282 7210 graduating seniors number applied to TN Promise number completed FAFSA community service enrolled at eligible TNP school retained 1 year retained 2 years retained 3 years 62128 62377 66298 57660 45744 22718 17246 9675 65909 59635 49020 23728 17124 9898 69944 60461 51866 25689 20132 16206 9545 8121 5492 68724 62570 55126 72289 64438 56244 69560 64401 17172 12386 17782 12912 data not yet availble for these cohorts percentage enrolled Percentage retained 28% 56% 27% 58% 24% 59% 26% 72% 25% 73%

Sources THEC / TSAC TN Fact Book 2011-2018 TN Promise Annual Report 2016-2018 TN Department of Education Graduation Cohort Data

Open Floor Erika Adams Outreach Specialist-East THEC / TSAC erika.adams@tn.gov 615-417-0355 Regional office: Jonesborough, TN