# Presentation: 272772

## State Scholars: Increasing Rigorous Course Taking in High School

- Presented by:
- Phyllis Hudecki
- Executive Director, Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition (OBEC)
- U.S. Department of Education
- The 2nd Annual National High School Leadership Summit
- December 2, 2003
- Washington, D.C.

**Archived Information**

## Adults with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher, 2002

- Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY, Number 129,  March 2003.

## State Goal: Increase the number of college graduates	

- Strategy: Increase the number of students attending college by providing tuition grants for eligible students from low income families.
- 1992
- The Oklahoma Legislature enacted OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program)

## Why State Scholars Initiative?

- Business needs better educated workers, with education completed beyond high school.
- Rigorous high school courses are single most important factor in college success.
- Business has defined skills for the workplace as knowledge derived from core academic courses

## What is State Scholars?	

- Goal:
-  To get more students to enroll in  rigorous core courses in high school.
- Businesses will help recruit, recognize and provide incentives to students who remain in the core courses.
- High impact and low cost initiative.

## Oklahoma Scholars and Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP)

- Purpose:
- To increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.
- To encourage more students from families with limited income to prepare for college and earn college degrees.
- NOTE: Preparation is focused on a more *narrowly defined* and *rigorous* set of core courses in high school.

## OHLAP Requirements

- Students must enroll during the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade
- Family income may not exceed $50,000 at the time of enrollment (income is _not_ reconsidered at a later date)
- Complete 17-unit core curriculum based on college admission requirements (Oklahoma Scholars minimum core courses, range of course titles restricted and defined)
- Graduate from an accredited or non-accredited high school (non-accredited school graduates must also score a 22 on the ACT; home school students are not currently eligible)
- 2.5 GPA in the required core curriculum
- 2.5 GPA overall
- Attend school regularly
- Refrain from substance abuse
- Refrain from criminal/delinquent acts

## Oklahoma Scholars Core Courses“Basic Skills” as defined by business	

- English: 4 credits (I,II,III,IV)
- Math: 3 credits (algebra I, geometry, algebra II)
- Lab science: 3 credits (biology, chemistry, physics)
- Social studies: 3.5 credits (U.S., world his-, tory, geography, economics, government)
- Foreign language: 2 credits of same language
- Total: 15.5 credits

## Oklahoma State Board of Education Graduation Requirement (Math)

- Math: 3 credits
- 1 credit: Algebra I or algebra I taught in a context
- 2 credits: which may include, but are not limited to algebra II, geometry  or geometry taught in a context, trigonometry, math analysis or pre-calculus, calculus, statistics/probability, computer science, mathematics of finance, intermediate algebra, contextual math courses which enhance technology preparation.

## OHLAP Scholarship

- Pays the equivalent of public college tuition; can be used at private colleges and for some career-tech programs.
- Pays only for the actual hours enrolled; no minimum enrollment required.
- Good for up to five years or the completion of a baccalaureate degree

## Oklahoma Scholars

- -Presentations to 8th grade classes done by business volunteers
- -Recruit students to commit to core courses
- -Businesses provide incentives and recognition throughout high school years
- -Senior recognition activities and awards
- -Hiring preferences

## OHLAP Enrollment

- To date, nearly 33,000 students have enrolled in OHLAP since its inception in 1992.
- Of these students, over 23,000 are still currently attending high school.

## OHLAP and State Scholars Alignment Means....

- Less confusion among students, counselors, parents
- More students eligible for tuition scholarships if they meet the family income criteria
- More students taking more rigorous courses, improving future opportunities
- Data from OHLAP can be used to support State Scholars Initiative

## OHLAP High School GPA’s

## ACT Scores2002 OHLAP HS Graduates

- *OHLAP ACT scores reflect students’ highest test score; OK and National averages reflect students’ last test score.

## OHLAP College-Going Rates

## OHLAP College Remediation Rates

## College Freshmen with a GPA of at least 2.0

## Freshmen to Sophomore Persistence Rate

## 6-Year Degree Completion Rate – 1996 Class(within the state)

- 15 OHLAP students from the 1996 class still have remaining scholarship eligibility.

## 5-Year Degree Completion Rate – 1997 Class(within the state)

- 28 OHLAP students still have remaining scholarship eligibility; in addition, some students are scheduled to complete degrees after their 5 years of eligibility.