State officials report rise in four-year graduation rate, point to targeted college-and-career grants

State Department of Education staff reported to the board that the statewide four-year cohort graduation rate rose from the prior reported figure to 90 percent and that college-and-career readiness (CCR) improved substantially after a year of targeted grants to districts.

A department presenter, citing the official cohort calculation used for graduation reporting, said the four-year cohort graduation rate increased to 90 percent from the prior figure, and department staff reported CCR rose from about 79.07 percent to 84.2 percent, a gain of roughly 5.13 percentage points. "We've gone from 81.21 percent to 90 percent," a department speaker said while summarizing cohort and graduation-year calculations and the work to improve record-keeping and supports.

Department staff said the CCR measure counts students who meet at least one of a set of indicators: ACT benchmark or subtest benchmark, ACT WorkKeys, qualifying AP/IB scores, approved dual-enrollment or postsecondary credit, approved industry credentials, military enlistment, or an approved in-school apprenticeship. The department added the industry-credential indicator and an in-school youth apprenticeship in July 2022 and works with workforce partners to align local offerings.

The department described a supplemental appropriation of CCR grants that were distributed to districts and prioritized for schools where the gap between graduation rate and CCR was largest. Staff said every district that applied received at least $50,000 and many higher-need schools received larger awards; some awardees received sums approaching $400,000 depending on need and application priorities. "Every district who applied at least received $50,000 at a minimum," a department official said.

Examples of funded activities included paid dual-enrollment tuition and scholarships, college and industry tours, test preparation, teacher coursework to enable dual-enrollment instruction, evening "Twilight" recovery or credit-recovery programs, childcare for students attending programs, and investments in simulators or lab technology for career pathways. The department said it will compile district-level data on awards and outcomes and provide the board with grants-by-system figures and graduation-cohort rates by system on request.

Board members asked for and received a commitment to provide the board a district-by-district breakdown of graduation rates and CCR grant awards. Department staff said the CCR grants are included again in the current budget and thanked the legislature for initial funding; they are preparing reporting on program impact after the grants' first year.