E-News From MPR Assoicates, Inc. - February 25, 2010    
Just the Facts: California offers its 11th graders a voluntary Early Assessment Program (EAP) test to determine their readiness for study at California state universities. Some 75 percent of 11th graders take the EAP English test, but only 35 percent take the math test because many have not advanced far enough in math to take the test. Results for 2009 show that 12 percent of 11th-graders tested as college-ready in English; 5 percent were college-ready in math; and an additional 15 percent were 'conditionally' ready in math.    
   
Strengthening state education longitudinal data systems    
States need accurate data that are accessible and meaningful to a variety of stakeholders to track students through the education pipeline and beyond. MPR is working with several states to help them develop plans to build or strengthen comprehensive state longitudinal data systems. For the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, MPR is creating a strategic plan to expand the state’s capacity to monitor student progress through postsecondary education and into the workforce. For California, MPR developed an inventory of current data systems and a list of proposed projects for California’s proposal for federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Read MPR’s overview of the issues involved in constructing and sustaining high-quality state longitudinal data systems. Contact: Jay Pfeiffer.    
   
Fine-tuning student success measures    
What constitutes success for California high school and community college students with widely varying aspirations, abilities, and economic circumstances? For the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, MPR researchers, in partnership with The RP Group and Cal-PASS, developed a report and website to track a series of student outcome measures over time. These include high school graduation rates, college-readiness indicators, college-going rates, and community college completion and transfer rates—the best indicators of success obtainable with available data. Visit http://www.measuringsuccess.mprinc.com/. Contact: Laura Horn.    
   
Helping immigrants become U.S. citizens    
Many immigrants need help preparing to become U.S. citizens, and many community organizations and employers want to help, but don’t know how to get started. Expanding ESL, Civics, and Citizenship Education in Your Community: A Start-Up Guide, developed by MPR for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, shows the way. The guide describes how to develop a program, recruit volunteers, and locate teaching resources. Read More. Contact: Ruth Sugar.    
   
What are the benefits of multiple pathways programs?    
Multiple pathways programs—comprehensive programs integrating rigorous academic and technical study with real-world applications—showed promising results in an evaluation of 16 sites conducted by MPR for ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career and the James Irvine Foundation. In 2007–08, 98 percent of seniors in the pathways programs graduated. Pathways students were more likely than their peers statewide to pass the California High School Exit Exam on the first try in 10th grade and to meet requirements for admission to California public postsecondary institutions. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the evaluation examined student achievement, student engagement, and a variety of factors that influenced implementation of multiple pathways. Read more. Contact: Beverly Farr.    
   
Jobs at MPR    
MPR welcomes employment inquiries from experienced researchers with expertise in postsecondary education topics and from those with strong evaluation and quantitative skills. If you are interested in employment with MPR, please contact MPR’s human resources director at cramer@mprinc.com.    
   
Innovative Research Practical Solutions    

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