EPAS: Elevating the Postsecondary Aspirations of Students

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EPAS Elevating the Postsecondary Aspirations of
Students!
EPAS Elevating the Postsecondary Aspirations of
Students

• Using ACTs EPAS Data Effectively

Glenn Beer Louisiana Tech University gbeer_at_latech
.edu
Heather Poole Louisiana Board of Regents December
2, 2009
Glenn Beer Louisiana Tech University December 2,
2009
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What is EPAS?

• Educational Planning and Assessment System
• EXPLORE TEST
• Administered to all 8th grade students in
  Louisiana in the fall of each year
• PLAN TEST
• Administered to all 10th grade students in
  Louisiana in the fall of each year
• ACT TEST
• Administered to all high school juniors in
  Louisiana beginning in 2009
• Common Scale Score Predicts high-stakes test
  scores

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Why Do We All Need EPAS?

• The Link Between High School Reform and College
  Access and Success
• Predictors of College Attendance and Completion
• academic preparation,
• social support,
• access to information,
• parental involvement and knowledge
• about college, and
• financial aid.
• Martinez Klopott, 2005

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Why Do We All Need EPAS?

• Effective use of EPAS data can
• Promote Rigor, relevance, and relationships
• Contribute to a comprehensive program to address
  the five predictors of college attendance and
  completion
• Ensure that all students are college and work
  ready by the time they graduate from high school

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Why Does Louisiana Need EPAS?
Louisianas projected decline in high school
graduates

• 2000-2001 46,689
• 2005-2006 43,989
  (-5.7)
• 2011-2012 40,984 (-12.2)

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Louisianas Efforts to Promote Effective
Utilization of EPAS

• Professional Development for Teachers and
  Counselors
• Project EPAS
• Train the Trainer Workshops
• Integration of EPAS into Content PD
• Professional Development for Guidance Counselors
  (LA GEAR UP)
• Board of Regents workshops, ACT Council, etc.
• Integration of EPAS into teacher preparation
  programs

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Louisianas Efforts to Promote Effective
Utilization of EPAS

• Educating Students and Parents
• Important component of all PD projects
• School-based efforts to
• prepare students in advance of testing
• Provide individualized feedback and explanation
  of test results
• Discuss possible interventions
• LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camps
• P3 Preparing Parents for Possibilities

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Successful Implementation of EPAS Requires
Effective Professional Development
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Components of Effective PD

• Immersion in EPAS
• College Readiness Standards
• Case Studies and Articles
• Correlations between EPAS and LEAP
• Guiding question
• How can EPAS data be used to improve student
  academic achievement?

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Components of Effective PD

• EPAS/Comprehensive Curriculum
• Correlation Maps
• Integrating EPAS into Teaching
• Interpreting Test Data
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Guiding Question
• Are we adequately preparing our students to be
  college and work ready when they complete high
  school?

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Explore and Plan Reports Provided by ACT

• A Profile Summary Report, sent to each school and
  a master copy to the district, includes a variety
  of reports with EXPLORE and PLAN results
• The first few reports provide a comparison of
  local student results with national results
• The reports we find MOST useful
• Roster 1 Early identification
• Roster 2 Coursework intervention
• Roster 3 Need for Assistance
• In addition to individual student report and
  label (only provided for EXPLORE if ordered),
  each school is provided with a Master Roster.

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New this Year!

• Item Response Summary Report

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Who uses EPAS results?

• Who uses the EPAS results and WHY?
• On-site Curriculum Coordinator
• Testing and/or Remediation Coordinator
• Counselor
• Classroom teacher

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Spreading the WordA New Approach to Statewide PD
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Goals

• Expand access to effective professional
  development utilizing EPAS data as a tool for
  school improvement efforts using a web-based
  delivery system for PD
• Identify at least one adjunct professor in each
  school district in Louisiana to facilitate the
  web-based course
• Provide training and support for adjunct
  professors in an effort to reach 1,000 teachers,
  administrators, and counselors

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A True K-16 Partnership

• ACT
• Assists with EPAS training for Adjunct Professors
• Provides supplemental resource materials to
  support professional development courses
• Louisiana Board of Regents
• Assists with EPAS training for Adjunct Professors
• Provides funding to support travel expenses
  associated with EPAS training

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A True K-16 Partnership

• Louisiana Tech University
• Develop web-based course offering
• Hire up to 68 adjunct faculty to facilitate up to
  68 sections of the graduate-level course
  associated with the PD
• Offer tuition scholarships for as many as 1,360
  course participants
• Louisiana School Districts
• Identify at least one person within each district
  to serve as adjunct professor
• Recruit 15-20 participants for each course section

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Benefits to Districts

• Increased awareness of EPAS data as a school
  improvement tool for all middle and high schools
• Promote college and career awareness and
  increased aspirations for participating students
• Improved SPS
• Greater K-16 alignment

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Who are Adjunct faculty?

• Adjunct professors must possess a masters Degree
  or higher
• Must provide an official transcript indicating
  completion of at least 18 hours of graduate work
  in education
• Must have the recommendation of the superintendent

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Benefits to Adjuncts

• Deeper awareness/understanding of EPAS
• Adjunct professorship at a major university can
  enhance personal resume/vita
• Additional compensation
• Adjuncts are paid 1,750 for each section of the
  course taught

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Responsibilities of Adjuncts

• Attend initial training (June or July)
• Recruit at least 15 and no more than 20 students
  for each section of course offered
• Complete all required paperwork
• Collect tuition and application fees
• Return to Tech for final meeting in August with
  all paperwork completed
• Facilitate at least one section of course in Fall
  2009

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Who should take the course

• Anyone who is interested in school improvement at
  the middle and high school levels
• Teachers, administrators, counselors

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Cost of Course

• 40 graduate school application fee
• 140 tuition costs not covered by tuition
  scholarship
• Who is responsible for payment?
• The student
• The district may elect to cover the cost of the
  course through career and tech ed funds or
  through other professional development funds

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Lincoln Parish Map
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Questions?