Susan P. Dawson

1
A regional collaborative to increase economic
outcomes by aligning our education systems to
better fulfill the potential of every citizen.
Susan P. Dawson July 31, 2006
2
Background

• We have a school system designed for the
  industrial age
• Better now than it ever has been,
• But not adequately serving our needs
• Achievement Gaps still large across the region
• Fewer than ½ of area students graduate ready for
  college1
• US graduates rank near the bottom of industrial
  nations
• Of 100 Texas 7th graders, 17 successfully get a
  degree2
• Horizontally and vertically disconnected

1 TEA data from Greater Austin Chamber Community
Progress Report 2005 2 National Center for
Public Policy and Higher Education April 2004
Policy Alert, adjusted for estimates in private
and out of state colleges
3
What has Changed?

• Schools are better than they ever have been,
  especially at the elementary level
• But the need is greater
• Texas has fastest growing child population in the
  US
• By 2040, our school-age population will double
• And, business needs are changing faster than the
  educational system is
• Different economic age Attainment standard
  higher
• For more of the population
• That is getting harder to educate

4
Changing Demands on Workforce

• Agricultural Age - What can you do?
• Industrial Age - How fast can you do it?
• Information Age - What do you know?
• Innovation Age - How fast can you learn?

Where our school calendar is
What our system was designed for
What we are struggling to get to
Where we need to be
5
College Participation Rates
6
Lifetime Household Income
From March 2001 Current Population Survey, Texas
State Data Center
7
Projected Change inPopulation Income
Millions
Source Texas State Data Center
8
Long TermEconomic Impact

• Average household income in Texas is expected to
  decline by 4,000 in constant dollars by 2030
• 40 Billion annual hit to state GDP
• 23 Billion in lost tax revenues
• 3.3 Billion in prison costs

50B
70B
9
Local Impact of Drop Outs
10
What Do We Need?

• A system that is efficient
• A system that effectively educates every child to
  a career-ready standard
• Close the achievement gap
• A system that scales
• A system that works seamlessly from birth to
  grade 16
• A system that is adequately financed to provide
  an exemplary level of education
• Accountable tied to real performance

11
Problems with the Status Quo
Outdated Assumptions and Approaches
Systemic Disconnects
Not Meeting Student Needs
Insufficient Outcomes
12
Address Systemically?

• Define our expectations for success
• Objectively understand the highest leverage
  points
• Generate the capacity for high wage jobs
• Project realistic job projections and skills
  needs
• Align the curriculum to meet job needs
• Make programmatic changes to effectively deliver
• Align the system to efficiently deliver

13
E3 Alliance Process
Objective Data Map
Unified Community Vision
Better aligned, more effective Educational System
Enhanced Tax Base
Increase Global Competitiveness
Higher Quality of Life
14
Use a Regional Model?

• Any given school/district/college does not scale
  
• to capacity
• And, the state will not fix things soon

15
E3 Alliance Goal

• Create a unified community vision and aligned
  educational continuum in Central Texas that can
  optimally fulfill the potential of every child in
  the region from birth to college and career.
• Outcomes measured by Closing the Gaps and
  prepared workforce
• Leverage this as a model for regional success
  throughout the state of Texas

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Working Both Sides
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The Big Picture
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Bringing Together Constituencies
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Leveraging Other Work

• ACC College Connections
• High school redesign
• APIE study groups/teacher coaching
• Ready by 21 Youth Services Mapping
• GAC Task Forces
• P-16 Council articulation
• Success by Six early childhood focus
• Envision Central Texas engagement models
• United Way Community Agenda
• SkillPoint/Ray Marshall Graduate Data Center

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Address Systemically(some examples)

• Define our expectations for success
• Objectively understand the highest leverage
  points
• Generate the capacity for high wage jobs
• Project realistic job projections and skills
  needs
• Align the curriculum to meet job needs
• Make programmatic changes to effectively deliver
• Align the system to efficiently provide

Opportunity Austin
WorkSource, TWC
State P-16 Council
Schools, Colleges, Programs
21
E3 AllianceSteering Committee
ACC
Housed at Community College District Governance
Structure that can be recreated across other
regions
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Making it Possible

• Founding Partners

Houses E3 and serves as fiscal agent
Financial Backers

• Austin Area Research Organization
• Betsy and Hughes Abell Foundation
• Tapestry Foundation
• IBM
• RGK Foundation

23
Timeline
Ph 1 Planning
Ph 3 Implementation Alignment
Community Engagement
Research
Ph 2 Research Foundation Building
Ph 1 Institutionalization, Monitoring
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A regional collaborative to increase economic
outcomes by aligning our education systems to
better fulfill the potential of every citizen.
Susan P. Dawson July 31, 2006