KEY INDICATORS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

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PREPARATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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College courses prepare students for the changing workplace and are much more demanding than high school classes. To be successful when they get to college, students must prepare by taking rigorous courses throughout their schooling, especially in high school. The ACT test is one national-level measure of a student’s readiness for college. The graphs below show how Oklahoma high school students perform on the ACT and have generally improved since 2002.

Click icon to hear audio from Chancellor Risser (WMA, 413k). Average Oklahoma Subject Scores Compared to National Scores.

ACT studies indicate that students who score 19 or higher are more likely to be successful in college than those who score below 19. As indicated below, a significant number of Oklahoma high school students are not prepared to be successful when they enter college.

If entering high school students are not prepared to be successful in college, they must take remedial classes when they begin college. Remediation rates vary among research and regional universities and community colleges. For example, in 2003 (the most current data available), 13.2 percent of the first-year students at the two research universities required remediation as compared to 35.1 percent at the regional universities and 51.8 percent at the community colleges. Students who are required to take one or more remedial courses are less likely to graduate from college than those who do not require remedial courses.

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The State Regents offer a number of very substantial programs to help students better prepare for college. Among the most significant of these statewide programs are:

The Oklahoma EPAS program operates across the state and is based on the ACT. Under the EPAS program, middle school and high school students take tests (assessments) in key academic areas that gauge their college readiness. The three assessment tools are the eighth-grade EXPLORE test, the 10th grade PLAN test and the ACT in the 11th or 12th grade. Participation in EPAS by school districts is voluntary, but participation rates have increased dramatically since the program began in 1994. Today, nearly 500 school districts and 85,000 eighth and 10th graders have participated (see graph below).

The State Regents’ EPAS, GEAR UP and OHLAP Click icon to see video (WMA, 7.5m).programs are all designed to help students become better prepared for college and to encourage and facilitate college admission and enrollment.

With these programs in place, Oklahoma is realizing some successes. The percentage of high school students who potentially will need remediation in college decreased from 1996 to 2004 in English, reading and science. Math remediation increased slightly, however, despite a modest increase in math scores on the ACT during the last eight years. Math performance gains remain a high priority for State Regents’ student preparation efforts. National comparisons show that additional efforts need to be made, particularly in science and, to a lesser extent, reading.

Click icon to hear audio from Chancellor Risser (WMA, 525k). Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) Enrollment by Year of High School Graduation. In 1996 was 1,610, in 1997 was 492, in 1998 was 650, in 1999 was 1,057, in 2000 was 1,360, 2001 was 1,444, 2003 was 5,861, in 2004 was 7,134, 2005 was 7,591. Approximate for 2006 was 8,250 and 2007 was 9,075. In 1999-2000 the income requirement increased from $24,000 to $32,000. In 2000-2001 the income requirement increased from $32,000 to $50,000.

Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) Percent Completion by Year of High School Graduation. In 1996 was 39.6, in 1997 was 52.2, in 1998 was 56.9, in 1999 was 59.7, in 2000 was 60.7, in 2001 was 61.4, in 2002 was 67.1 and in 2003 was 71.5

Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) Student Participation. 1994 Explore 9280 Plan 7700 1995 Explore 19931 Plan 16577 1996 Explore 34390 Plan 29935 1997 Explore 37244 Plan 34637 1998 Explore 40471 Plan 38382 1999 Explore 41269 Plan 38520 2000 Explore 41491 Plan 39616 2001 Explore 42504 Plan 40271 2002 Explore 43166 Plan 39484 2003 Explore 44072 Plan 40135 Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) District Participation. 1994 Explore 26 Plan 26 1995 Explore 104 Plan 105 1996 Explore 240 Plan 270 1997 Explore 345 Plan 323 1998 Explore 395 Plan 366 1999 Explore 426 Plan 388 2000 Explore 456 Plan 413 2001 Explore 484 Plan 426 2002 Explore 473 Plan 432 2003 Explore 488 Plan 442

Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) Subject Scores.
Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System. 2001-02 English 14.2, Math 14.2, Reading 14.2, Science 16.0, Composite 14.8 2002-03 English 14.1, Math 14.1, Reading 14.1, Science 15.9, Composite 14.7 2003-04 English 14.0, Math 14.0, Reading 14.0, Science 15.9, Composite 14.6 1999 National Norms. English 13.9, Math 14.4, Reading 13.9, Science 15.9, Composite 14.7
Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System (The PLAN Assessment (Scale 1-32). 2001-02 English 16.2, Math 16.5, Reading 16.4, Science 17.6, Composite 16.9 2002-03 English 16.3, Math 16.4, Reading 16.3, Science 17.5, Composite 16.7 2003-04 English 16.4, Math 16.5, Reading 16.5, Science 17.5, Composite 16.8 1999 National Norms English 16.1, Math 16.3, Reading 15.8, Science 17.4, Composite 16.5.
ACT Math Average of High School Graduates. In 1996 the Baseline for Oklahoma was 19.5 and the National was 20.2. In 2004, Oklahoma ranked 19.8%, National ranked 20.7%. High School Event Dropout Rates. In 1996 the Baseline for Oklahoma was 5.4% and the National was 5.0%. Current status in 2001 for Oklahoma showed 5.2%, National was Unabailable.

ACT Average Composite Score of High School Graduates. In 1996, the baseline for Oklahoma was 20.5 and the National was 20.9. The current status in 2004, Oklahoma was 20.6 and the National was 20.9. High School Completion Rates of 18-24 Year Olds. In 1994-1996 Baseline for Oklahoma was 89.5% and the National was 85.8%. Current Status from 1998-2000 for Oklahoma showed 77.3%, while National showed 78.7%. Percentage of ACT Subject Scores Less Than 19 for High School Graduates. In 1996 Baseline for English subject in Oklahoma was 41% and the National was 39%. Math for Oklahoma was 49% and the National was 42%. Reading for Oklahoma was 36% and the National was 35%. Science for Oklahoma was 34% and the National was 31%. Current Status for 2004 in English Oklahoma was 38% and the National was 39%. Math Oklahoma was 50% and the National was 42%. Reading for Oklahoma and the National both tied at 35%. Science for Oklahoma was 32% and the National was 30%. Number of AP Exams Per 1000 High School Juniors and Seniors. 1996 baseline Oklahoma was 49 and the National was 130. Current status for 2003, Oklahoma raked 176 and National was 225.

Measuring Up: The State by State Report Card for Higher Education.


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