ACT/PSAE ACT/PSAE College ReadinessCollege Readiness

Getting On Track for Getting On Track for CollegeCollege

Dr. Camilla Covington-PrincipalDr. Camilla Covington-Principal

Dunbar Vocational Career Dunbar Vocational Career Academy (D.V.C.A.) High SchoolAcademy (D.V.C.A.) High School

What Does It All Mean?What Does It All Mean? Composition 180 Composition 180

Mathematics 099 Mathematics 099 Reading Enrichment 117Reading Enrichment 117

What does it all mean to What does it all mean to an incoming freshman?an incoming freshman?

But all of the above are remedial courses-But all of the above are remedial courses-no college credit….no college credit….

The FactsThe Facts

90% of CPS graduates who enroll in 90% of CPS graduates who enroll in mathematics courses at the mathematics courses at the University of Illinois at Chicago start University of Illinois at Chicago start in REMEDIAL math.in REMEDIAL math.

Even CPS graduates who enter the Even CPS graduates who enter the city college system score so poorly city college system score so poorly that they too must begin on the that they too must begin on the REMEDIAL level.REMEDIAL level.

The Impact of Starting on The Impact of Starting on the Remedial Levelthe Remedial Level

No college credit for remedial coursesNo college credit for remedial courses Paying college prices for high school Paying college prices for high school

coursescourses Automatically on a five or more year Automatically on a five or more year

planplan Scholarship and grant money running Scholarship and grant money running

out before a degree is earnedout before a degree is earned Student discouragementStudent discouragement More college dropoutsMore college dropouts

College AccessCollege Access

Standardized Standardized testing is the testing is the gatekeeper togatekeeper to

post-post-secondary secondary educational educational opportunitiesopportunities

College ReadinessCollege Readiness

Chicago Public Schools purchased the Chicago Public Schools purchased the EPAS testing system from American EPAS testing system from American College Testing (ACT) to help students College Testing (ACT) to help students break through the barriers to post-break through the barriers to post-secondary education.secondary education.

EEducationducation, , PPlanninglanning & & AAssessmentssessment

SSystemystem

(EXPLORE, PLAN & ACT)(EXPLORE, PLAN & ACT)

College Readiness College Readiness StandardsStandards

College Readiness Standards are a revision College Readiness Standards are a revision of the of the Standards for TransitionStandards for Transition..

The College Readiness Standards are The College Readiness Standards are statements intended to help students, statements intended to help students, teachers, and parents understand the teachers, and parents understand the meaning of EPAS scores.meaning of EPAS scores.

They explain the skills a student has They explain the skills a student has mastered and indicate what he is now mastered and indicate what he is now prepared to learn.prepared to learn.

College Readiness College Readiness BenchmarksBenchmarks

Help students, Help students, teachers and teachers and parents know if parents know if students are on students are on track to be able track to be able to take true to take true college courses college courses their freshman their freshman year.year.

EXPLORE and PLAN EXPLORE and PLAN College Readiness College Readiness Benchmark scoresBenchmark scores

College course/ACT, PLAN College course/ACT, PLAN or EXPLORE Subject Area or EXPLORE Subject Area TestTest

ACTACT PLANPLAN EXPLOREXPLOREE

English Composition/EnglishEnglish Composition/English 1818 1515 1313

Algebra/ MathematicsAlgebra/ Mathematics 2222 1919 1717 Social Science/ReadingSocial Science/Reading 2121 1717 1515Biology/ScienceBiology/Science 2424 2121 2020

CompositeComposite 2121 1818 1616Based upon a student’s expected growth

College ReadinessCollege Readiness Now students can know from their Now students can know from their

freshman year if they are on track for freshman year if they are on track for college courses.college courses.

They can assess their progress year to They can assess their progress year to year to determine if they are excelling at year to determine if they are excelling at the proper rate.the proper rate.

They, along with their teachers, can make They, along with their teachers, can make adjustments while there is still time to adjustments while there is still time to make an impact.make an impact.

How Teachers Can HelpHow Teachers Can Help

Become familiar with Become familiar with the College the College Readiness StandardsReadiness Standards

Incorporate the skills Incorporate the skills indicated to improve indicated to improve overall rigor of overall rigor of coursescourses

Inform students of Inform students of what it means to be what it means to be ready for college ready for college courses.courses.

How Students Can HelpHow Students Can Help

Become familiar with Become familiar with the College Readiness the College Readiness Standards.Standards.

Take education Take education seriously. Strive to seriously. Strive to learn all you can.learn all you can.

Take the EXPLORE, Take the EXPLORE, PLAN, PLAN and ACT PLAN, PLAN and ACT cycle of testing.cycle of testing.

Keep a record of your Keep a record of your scores and progress.scores and progress.