TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary page i Annual Report Methodology and Format page iii Conclusion page iii 2015-2016 Data and Findings page 1 Supplemental Information and Best Practices page 18 Appendix A: 2017-2018 Counties Served by CROP page 20 Appendix B: 2017-2018 Participating CROP Institutions page 22 Appendix C: 2017-2018 Schools Served by CROP, by County page 23 Appendix D: Activities and Programs for Students page 25 Appendix E: Description of Select Programs and Activities page 26 Appendix F: CROP Testimonials page 30 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section 1007.34(12), Florida Statutes (F.S.), directs the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to develop a report to the Florida Legislature and to the Commissioner of Education regarding the effectiveness of the College Reach-Out Program (CROP) and the performance outcomes of program participants compared to the performance outcomes of their cohorts with similar backgrounds and characteristics. This document constitutes the report in fulfillment of this mandate. The College Reach-Out Program is a statewide program created in 1983 by the Florida Legislature under section 1007.34, F.S. To participate in the College Reach-Out Program, a postsecondary educational institution may submit a proposal to the Department of Education. A CROP advisory council is appointed by the Commissioner of Education to review the proposals and recommend to the State Board of Education an order of priority for funding the proposals. The State Board of Education shall consider the proposals and determine which proposals to implement as programs that will strengthen the educational motivation and preparation of low-income educationally disadvantaged students. In 1991, the CROP Advisory Council asked the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission (PEPC) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program. During the 1994 legislative session, approved legislation mandated that the commission measure the effectiveness of the program annually. In 2002, PEPC evolved into the Council for Educational Policy, Research and Improvement (CEPRI) relinquishing responsibility for CROP and the evaluation. Subsequently, CROP was incorporated into the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). Following reorganization in 2008, CROP was placed in the FDOE’s Division of Public Schools (DPS). For a student to participate in the College Reach-Out Program, students must meet both academic and economic eligibility criteria as described in Rule 6A-6.05282 of the Florida Administrative Code. Of the students who currently participate in CROP, approximately 81 percent are from low-income families and 64 percent are considered economically disadvantaged, as measured by the number of students determined eligible for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch program (which requires family income to be at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines). A student’s financial hardships can impact their decision to pursue a college education. The College Reach-Out Program provides students with the necessary information regarding financial assistance opportunities that will support them in their decision to pursue and complete a postsecondary education. Without the interventions provided through CROP, these students are less likely to pursue a postsecondary education. An estimated 190,000 students have been served by CROP since the program was initiated. In 2015-2016, 74 percent of students admitted to the program were potential first generation in college students, while 81 percent were from low-income families and 64 percent were eligible for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch program. In 2015-2016, 1,587 new students joined the program and a total of 3,392 students were served. The approximate cost per student was $289 for the project year. i In 2015-2016, there were 3,392 participants enrolled in CROP. A total of 12 projects served 268 schools located across 29 counties. Appendices A through C include a map and list of the counties as well as the names of the participating institutions and schools served by CROP in 2017-2018. This report provides the outcome results of performance measures related to the academic achievement and college readiness of student participants. Data matches were performed against databases in the DPS, the Florida College System (FCS), the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP), the K-20 Education Data Warehouse (EDW) and the State University System (SUS). Performance Outcomes. Based on available data, the following table compares select academic performance outcomes of CROP students with the comparable cohort of non- CROP students: CROP Students Non-CROP Sample Academic Outcomes: 2014- 2015- 2014- 2015- 2015 2016 2015 2016 Seniors Receiving Standard Diplomas 91% 89% 62% 64% Graduates Enrolled in Higher Education 74% NA 59% NA Public College Students with GPA above 2.0 72% NA 64% NA SUS* Students with GPA above 2.0 83% NA 83% NA *State University System is abbreviated as SUS NA: not available Student Achievement. In accordance with the Florida Department of Education’s mission, CROP delivers quality services resulting in high student achievement as shown below for the 2015-2016 year: • The average GPA for CROP students in grades 9-12 was 2.77, compared to 2.39 for the random sample (non-CROP students with similar characteristics and background as CROP students). • Forty-one percent of CROP tenth graders passed the English Language Arts (ELA) section of the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), compared to 37 percent of the non-CROP sample and 50 percent for all test takers in grade 10. • Eighth graders in the CROP cohort averaged 196 on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 2.0 Science assessment, compared to 194 among the random sample. • CROP tenth graders averaged 344 on the ELA section of the FSA, compared to 342 among the random sample. • Fifty-three percent of the CROP cohort passed the FSA Biology I End-of-Course (EOC) assessment, compared to 49 percent of the non-CROP sample and 64 percent of all test takers in the state. ii • Ninety-seven percent of CROP participants in grades 6-11 were promoted to the next grade level, compared to 89 percent for the random sample. • Eighty-nine percent of CROP seniors graduated with a standard high school diploma, compared to 64 percent of seniors in the non-CROP sample confirming the continuance of a pronounced gap in the graduation rate. • In 2015-2016, 79 percent of the 2014-2015 CROP graduates were enrolled in postsecondary education or employed full-time, compared to 68 percent of the random sample graduates. Compared to the 2013-2014 graduates that were employed full-time or matriculated to a postsecondary institution in Florida in 2014- 2015, the CROP cohort experienced a slight increase (78 percent), while the figure for the random sample graduates remained constant at 68 percent. • Fifty-eight percent of the 2014-2015 CROP graduates who enrolled in postsecondary education attended a public college, 31 percent attended a state university, while six percent attended a private institution and five percent were enrolled in postsecondary career technical coursework. Enrollment rates for the 2013-2014 CROP graduates were: public college, 63 percent; state university, 21 percent; and eight percent either attended a private institution or postsecondary career technical coursework. Funding for the College Reach-Out Program is contingent upon annual funding in the General Appropriations Act. The funding provided to support the services of CROP has declined throughout the years. The Florida Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 to CROP in in fiscal year (FY) 2017 as compared to $2,400,000 in FY 1997. ANNUAL REPORT METHODOLOGY AND FORMAT The process of compiling, assessing and integrating data into the annual evaluation report is affected by many variables; for example, the school districts are allowed nine months after the end of an academic year to report final student information such as graduation status to the FDOE. After receipt, all data must be examined and corrected, if necessary, to ensure accuracy before matching it to the CROP cohort. This report focuses on data from 2015-2016.The report is based primarily on a comparison of the participation and performance of the 2015-2016 CROP cohort (n=3,392) with that of a non-CROP random sample (n=6,783) of similar backgrounds and characteristics, stratified by race and income; assessments based on data for the 2014-2015 CROP (n=3,523) and random (n=7,038) cohorts are also included. CONCLUSION The primary purpose of the College Reach-Out Program is to improve the academic achievement and college readiness of low-income, economically disadvantaged students and to concentrate its efforts on motivating and preparing these students to attend and complete a postsecondary education. The efforts of program services should improve the postsecondary outcomes of the target population. Section 1007.34, F.S., requires participating projects to provide continuous contact with student participants until they enroll in a postsecondary institution. iii Although the goal of the program is to increase the number of low-income, economically disadvantaged students to enroll and complete a postsecondary education, the provision of services for the target population is decreased once they enroll in a postsecondary educational institution. The data presented in this report indicates that 81 percent of the students currently served in the program are from low-income families. Students from low-income families often encounter multiple challenges when it comes to academic achievement and postsecondary education. To increase the number of low-income, economically disadvantaged students to enroll and complete a postsecondary education, the services provided by CROP should not end at the time a student enrolls in college but should continue until a student completes their postsecondary education. Future action plans/goals. To improve the efforts of the program in accomplishing the goal of the program the following recommendations have been established: 1. Create data systems that track college readiness and attainment to monitor the progress of projects and build accountability.