KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES ▪ % of kindergarteners who participated in ▪ Licensed childcare capacity for children under 5 & Lifelong ▪ % 3rd graders at grade level Learning ▪ % of students with IEPs ▪ High school student life readiness ▪ % of adults with sufficient access to opportunities to learn

Desired Outcome: Parents are engaged with their children, and have the skills and support needed to effectively parent. Children are ready for , having benefited from high-quality childcare settings. They have access to excellent schools; succeed academically; develop the social and life assets needed for success and happiness; and graduate ready for college or a career. After graduation, adults are able to find work in the Valley should they wish to; have access to continuing professional development opportunities; and can contribute as the next generation of Aspen residents.

Public education is one of the most important factors for societal outcomes. As consumers of quality education, families are drawn to places where the standard of education is valued and high. In terms of sustainability, education supports the availability and development of human capital. This is crucial for economic and social prosperity and progress.

Aspen aims to provide an encompassing learning environment — one that encourages learning at all ages. The educational environment also addresses various facets of a learning system: preparation, quality, support, readiness, engagement, skills, and opportunities.

Preparation & Capacity Preschool is widely recognized as a telling factor in educational and social outcomes. Research shows that children who attend preschool prior to kindergarten enrollment have better life outcomes, including college attendance, higher scores of academic success, and a lower likelihood of teen pregnancy.1

Given work schedules and obligations, a robust education system is supported by family access to affordable and available childcare.

1 Databank Indicator. “Preschool and PreKindergarten.” Web. Accessed May 2017. https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/preschool-and- prekindergarten/.

In 1992, Kids First was established to provide quality and Cost of Childcare affordable childcare sufficient for the Aspen community. Significant portions of family earnings go toward childcare, see In 2014, Colorado was ranked the 5th discussion on Pitkin County childcare cost data in the sidebar. and 7th least affordable state for center- based infant and four-year old child 1 Availability of childcare affects caretakers’ abilities to work, care, respectively. In general, a earn income, and provide for other basic needs for their significant portion of family earnings go households. Some parents who have not been able to secure toward childcare. Without affordable affordable childcare have identified the need to quit their job, childcare, parents would be limited in work alternate hours, and bring their child to work with them. their ability to afford childcare services Total number of childcare spots for Pitkin County programs and other basic needs for their families. are reported to give a sense for area capacity. This is particularly important given the relative high cost of living in Aspen. The key performance measure that provides perspective on this area include: Daily rates averaged overall from 2010 to 2015 show an increase of 3% on ▪ % of kindergarteners who participated in preschool average each year. Rates charged do not ▪ Licensed childcare capacity for children under 5 include any applicable financial aid, from which 109 children in area programs 3 benefit in some form. In 2014, the average Pitkin County annual infant Quality & Support childcare rate4 was 33% more costly Reading comprehension is another indicator of long-term than the state average.5 student success. Through the third-grade level, students are “learning to read.” The ability of third graders to read at grade level is cited as a relatively accurate predictor of high school graduation. Reading ability is strongly correlated to other economic outcomes for individuals, including earning potential and general productivity.2

Important to the discussion is education for children with special needs. The proportion of students in in Aspen is higher than in some districts, because the district is known for the quality of its special education programs. Individualized education plans (IEPs) serve students with special needs and allow for strategic planning to accommodate learning for every student.

The key performance measures that provide perspective on these areas include:

▪ % of third graders reading at grade level ▪ % of students with individualized education plans (IEPs)

2 “Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Matters” AECF. 2010. http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/AECF- Early_Warning_Full_Report-2010.pdf; see also: http://gradelevelreading.net/uncategorized/study-links-3rd-grade-reading-poverty-and-hs- graduation..

Readiness & Opportunity Aspen is known as a place of quality education and an educated populace. Quality and life readiness is often measured by high school completion rates.

Completion attracts a population that values high quality education and improves human capital resources and productivity in society.

Completion also allows individuals to gain access to better job opportunities and higher incomes, and is often required for progressing on to .

The 2016 Aspen High School exit self-assessment survey gives insight into seniors’ feelings of preparedness for their next step in life. When prompted “I feel Aspen High School has prepared me well for my next phase in life (work and/or college),” 83.9% agreed or strongly agreed, 11.4% were neutral, and 4.7% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement.3

In Aspen in 20164:

96.4% of persons 25 years and older held a high school diploma or higher

64.5% of residents 25 years and older held a Bachelor's degree or higher

Opportunity for education extends beyond the typical K-12 or college notions. Adult education is defined as “activities intentionally designed for bringing about learning among those whose age, social roles, or self-perception define them as adults.”5

Adults who develop their skills and capacities through are known to make greater contributions to the economy and society. And have greater diversity of thought.6 A variety of means,

3 “Exit survey.” Aspen High School. 2016. 4 US Census Bureau. Aspen city, Colorado Educational Attainment. 2016. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_16_5YR_S1501&prodType=table. 5 Infed. “What is adult education?” YMCA George Williams Colllege. http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-adult-education/. 6 “Why is Adult Education important?” AONTIS: The National Adult Learning Association. 5 July 2017. http://www.aontas.com/about/whoweare/adedimportant.html.

content, opportunity, and access is important to enable more adult learning. The key performance measures that Parent Engagement provide perspective on these areas include: Parent engagement in their children’s education is shown to be strongly correlated ▪ High school student life readiness (hope, social, to better student outcomes. and ) ▪ % of adults with sufficient access to opportunities Southwest Educational Development to learn Laboratory synthesized research from 51 studies in A New Wave of Evidence. Findings The metrics listed above are presented in the respective show that regardless of income and “Sustainability Measures” section of this report. background, students with involved parents are more likely to:

Current & Proposed Actions ▪ Earn higher grades and test scores, and Below is a summary of programs, initiatives, and enroll in higher-level programs recommendations that support Education and Lifelong ▪ Be promoted, pass their classes and earn Learning outcomes and associated key performance credits measures. Note the web links highlighted for each ▪ Attend school regularly organization for more detailed information. ▪ Have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school Preparation & Capacity ▪ Graduate and go on to post-secondary The City of Aspen Kids First Department works to support education families with service programs designed to meet childcare quality, affordability and capacity. Kids First works in Source: Center for Public Education. conjunction with and support of many care facilities and http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Ma various other resources and organizations, including: in-Menu/Public-education/Parent- Involvement/Parent-Involvement.html Current Actions • Colorado State Program for those requiring financial assistance or special needs. • Headstart in Carbondale offers free pre-school for 3 and 4-year-olds to qualifying families. • The Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) is a state funded early childhood education program available in the Aspen School District and Roaring Fork School District. CPP administers programs for children ages 3 and 4 that may have risk factors for success in school. • The Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) provides child care assistance to families who are working or seeking employment. It also includes families who are enrolled in the Colorado Works program and need child care services to support their efforts toward self- sufficiency. CCCAP provides access to reduced cost child care at licensed child care facilities or qualified (unlicensed) providers.

Proposed Actions • Kids First is engaging stakeholders in a discussion about increasing childcare capacity in the coming years.

Quality & Support The Aspen School District aims to enable students to realize their full potential, appreciate the relevance of their education, be excited to learn, and be empowered for success. The Aspen School District consists of a Preschool, Elementary School, , High School, and a Community School. The District works in conjunction with various other resources and organizations, including:

Current Actions • The Aspen School District uses STAR Renaissance as a supplemental tool to gauge reading levels and uses other school districts such as Boulder as a measure of comparison. • The Colorado Department of Education envisages that all students in Colorado will become educated and productive citizens capable of succeeding in society, the workforce, and life. • Aspen Community Foundation (ACF) works to build philanthropy and support non-profit organizations in the greater Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. ACF’s Cradle to Career Initiative works towards “needle-moving” youth success by way of over a dozen projects and programs, spanning from support for new mothers to college and career guidance. • Mountain Valley Developmental Services offers a range of services for individuals who are developmentally disabled and their families. • The Roaring Fork School District serves about 5,200 students in the Roaring Fork Valley including the communities of Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Basalt as well as unincorporated areas of Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties. • Childfind is a resource for identifying and coordination of services for children ages 0-5 years that have developmental challenges or special health care needs.

Proposed Actions • The Aspen School District aims to grow programming, especially technical education pieces (social media, computer programming etc.). • The Aspen School District aims to inventory the services available to those with challenges/ disabilities. This will attempt to address how successfully these students are integrated into the community.

Readiness & Opportunity Aspen High School promotes critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, academic achievement, ethical behavior, and meaningful engagement in the community and the world. The High School provides quality education and encourages life readiness for Aspen students. Colorado Mountain College serves as a local extension of opportunities to learn into adulthood. These instutitions work together with other community resources as listed below.

Current Actions • The Aspen Middle School offers new pieces to encourage a broader range of learning and interests. • The School on the Mountain Initiative allows school staff to visit other school districts and explore potential change areas. • The Aspen School District employs full time counselors at each school: 1 for 500 students at the elementary level, 2 for 480 students at the middle school level, and 2 for 570 students at the high school level. There are 2 counselors dedicated to college counseling. • The Aspen High School surveys students exiting the school with special emphasis on social and emotional learning. • The Aspen Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 fundraising organization that partners with school administrators and the community to identify and fund in-school or beyond classroom programs across our five schools. The Foundation has invested in many educational experiences, including: , Aeronautics, Performing Arts, International Baccalaureate, and College Counseling.

• The Aspen Youth Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and supportive place where youth (grades 4 through 12) can connect, learn, and grow during their out-of-school hours. • The Buddy Program offers various mentoring programs to ultimately allow youth to fulfill their full potential. • The Colorado Western Slope College Fair provides an annual opportunity for high school students to visit with over 250 national and international college admissions officers and attend over 30 workshops. • The Aspen Citizens Academy is a City-run course offering an in-depth understanding of government functions and informing participants of opportunities to be civically involved. • Our Community Listens is a free three-day communication skills course to raise awareness of communication profiles and core behavioral tendencies of others. The course uses classroom instruction, experiential activity, and group discussion to explore communication, verbal and body language, listening, and confrontation. • Roaring Fork Leadership is an annual leadership development program. The course brings 40 community members through 100+ hours of training and dialogue critical for personal, professional, and community problem solving and effectiveness.

Proposed Actions • Aspen High School will begin implementing individualized (specialized) training for interested students (e.g. computer coding).