# Appendix **A**

**Respondent Communications Materials**

### Draft District Letter LETTERHEAD Date Name Address Dear [superintendent], In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offers after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum des igned to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7 th grade through high school. As part of this effort, NCICTE will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study involving the random assignment of schools to the 11 th and 12 th grade components of RTS. North Dakota has passed legislation requiring students to develop college and career plans and is already implementing the RTS program in select schools around the state. RTS is not being implemented everywhere in the state, providing NCICTE with the opportunity to randomize additional participation. RTI International and FHI 360 have been contracted to conduct the study. We would like to invite <NAME OF SCHOOL(S)> to participate in this study. Project staff from RTI will soon contact you to describe the study in greater detail and seek your approval to contact the schools. Once district approval for the study is received, RTI will contact the schools and invite them to participate. After all participating schools have been identif ied, half will be assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half will serve as the control group. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools will be collected in order to compare the impact of the program. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors will be provided with the 11 th and 12 th grade curriculum during the 2015
- 2016 school year. Students in both treatment and control schools will be administered a baseline and an end

- of

- year survey (post
- intervention in treatment schools). Instructors of the RTS curriculum will be asked to complete a log at the end of each semester to track topics covered and assess the fidelity of implementation. Principal surveys will provide context for the school’s college and career preparation agenda. In addition, the study will conduct site visits to select treatment and control schools to conduct interviews and focus groups to gain a thorough understanding of how the curriculum is being implemented; the successes and challenges faced by instructors and students in learning from the RTS material; and the differences between schools implementing the curriculum and those not. Treatment schools will receive the RTS curriculum, along with teacher training and follow

- up te chnical assistance at no cost. Control schools will receive $1000 for participation in data collection activities. Study participants (RTS instructors, school coordinators, survey respondents, and interview participants) will receive a monetary incentive c orresponding to their level of involvement. The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. If you have any questions about participating in the study, please feel free to contact _____ at ph# or via email at xxx@xxx.org . I strongly encourage your participation. Thank you for your consideration. Xxx Title, agency Enclosures

## Draft **School Letter**  LETTERHEAD Date Name Address Dear Principal <name>, In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Ro ads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offers after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7 th grade through high school . As part of this effort, NCICTE will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study involving the random assignment of schools to the 11 th and 12 th grade components of RTS. North Dakota has passed legislation requiring students to develop college and career plans and is already implementing the RTS program in select schools around the state. RTS is not being implemented everywhere in the state, providing NCICTE with the opportunity to randomize additional participation. RTI International and FHI 360 h ave been contracted to conduct the study. We invite you to take part in this study and ask you to review the enclosed materials. Your district has approved the school’s participation, and project staff from RTI will soon contact you to describe the study in greater detail. After all participating schools have been identified, half will be assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half will serve as the control group. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both group s of schools will be collected in order to compare the impact of the program. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors will be provided with the 11 th and 12 th grade curriculum during the 2015
- 2016 school year. Students in both treatment and control schools will be administered a baseline and an end

- of

- year survey (post
- intervention in treatment schools). Instructors of the RTS curriculum will be asked to complete a log at the end of each semester to track topics covered and assess the fidelity of implementation. Principal surveys will provide context for the school’s college and career preparation agenda. In addition, the study will conduct site visits to select treatment and control schools to conduct interviews and focus groups to gain a thorough understanding of how the curriculum is being implemented; the successes and challenges faced by instructors and students in learning from the RTS material; and the differences between schools implementing the curriculum and those not. Treatment schools will receive the RTS curriculum, along with teacher training and follow

- up technical assistance at no cost. Control schools will receive $1000 for participation in data collection activities. Study participants (RTS instructors, school coordinator, survey respondents, and interview participants) will receive a monetary incentive corresponding to their level of involvement. The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. If you have any questions about participating in the study, please feel free to contact _____ at ph# or via email at xxx@xxx.org . I strongly encourage your participation. Thank you for your consideration. Xxx Title, agency Enclosures

### Draft Counselor Letter LETTERHEAD Date Name Address Dear Counselor <name>, In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offers after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7 th grade through high school. As part of this effort, NCICTE will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study involving the random assignment of schools to the 11 th and 12 th grade components of RTS. North Dakota has passed legislation requiring students to develop college and career plans and is already implementing the RTS program in select schools around the state. RTS is not being implemented everywhere in the state, providing NCICTE with the opportunity to randomize additional participation. RTI International and FHI 360 have been contracted to conduct the study. We invite your school to take part in this study and ask you to review the enclosed materials. Your district h as approved the study, and project staff from RTI will soon contact your principal to describe the study in greater detail. After all participating schools have been identified, half will be assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half will serve as the control group. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools will be collected in order to compare the impact of the program. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors will be provided with the 11 th and 12 th grade curriculum during the 2015
- 2016 school year. Students in both treatment and control schools will be administered a baseline and an end

- of

- year survey (post
- intervention in treatment schools). Instructors of the RTS curriculum will be asked to complete a log at the end of each semester to track topics covered and assess the fidelity of implementation. Principal surveys will provide context for the school’s college and career preparation agenda. In addition, the study will conduct site visits to select treatment and control schools to conduct interviews and focus groups to gain a thorough understanding of how the curriculum is being implemented; the successes and challenges faced by instructors and students in learning from the RTS material; and the differences between schools implementing the curriculum and those not. Treatment schools will receive the RTS curriculum, along with teacher training and follow

- up technical assistance at no cost. Control schools will receive $1000 for participation in data collection activities. Study participants (RTS instructors, school coordinator, survey respondents, and interview participants) will receive a monetary incentive corresponding to their level of involvement. The North Dakota Department of Educatio n supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. If you have any questions about participating in the study, please feel free to contact _____ at ph# or via email at xxx@xxx.org . I strongly encourage your school’s participation and would appreciate your support of this effort. Xxx Title, agency Enclosures

### Draft **School Coordinator Letter**  **and Responsibilities**

DATE «sch_entity_name» «sch_address» «sch_citystzip» Dear «sch_coord_name» , Weare looking forward to w orking with y

ou and your school this school year on the Roads to Success (RTS) Study . As the designated school coordinator for RTS , you play a critical role in assisting us with study preparations . W

e appreciate your assistance, par ticularly given the many demands on your time . The attached document, RTS School Coordinator Responsibilities , will provide you with an over view of RTS , as well as a list of tasks and timeline needed to prepare for RTS data collection. Y our school has been assigned to the <TREA

TMENT or CONTROL> cohor t. RTS is sponsored by the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education. The study will be conducted by RTI Inter national and FHI 360, with support from the Nor th Dakota Depar tment of Career and Technical Education and the Depar tment of Education. An RTS study representative will contact you shor tly to answer questions you may have and to begin discussing data collection logistics . In
- school data collection will take place throughout the 2015
- 2016 school year. Weask you to conduct the student survey sessions , the parental per mission process for student components , and assist with coordinating inter views and focus groups . A school administrator and teachers implementing the RTS curriculum will also be asked to complete a questionnaire . They will be contacted separately , and their data will be collected through a web

- based application or hard

- copy sur vey . Wesincerely appreciate your help in coordinating data collection activities at y our s chool and in ensuring that RTS is a success . Each school’s participation is critical to the success of the study! If you have any questions , please contact us at RTI (###) ###

- #### or by email at xxx@r ti.org. Thank you for your suppor t through par ticipating in RTS . Sincerely , B en Dalton, PhD Iv an Char ner RTI, Co
- Principal Investigator FHI 360 Co
- Principal Investigator EnclosuresA- 1



### RTS	School	Coordinator	Responsibilities As the RTS school coordinator (SC), you pla y an important role in ensuring the success of the study. We will assist you as much as possible, but we will need to rely on yo u to complete certain tasks so that data collection will be successful. **Study Details** RTS data collection activities will include:  **Student Surveys –**  11 th and 12 th grade students will be asked to complete two surveys, a baseline survey within the first month of the school year and an outcome survey at the end. The survey asks about beha viors related to college applications, college enrollment (if accep te d, name of school, living arrangements, etc.), financial aid, and immediate plans fo r work (j obs applied fo r, o ffers), in addition to long -term career goals. Surveys will be administered online using existing school computers , and will take 30 - 35 minutes to complete .  **Te acher**  **Surveys** – Te achers (or other RTS instructors) implementing the RTS curriculum will be asked to complete two surveys to track topics covered toa ssess the fidelity of RTS implementation. The surveys can be completed online and should t ake 30 minutes to complete.  **Principal Survey** – The principal survey will provide context for the school’s college and career preparation agenda. The survey can be completed online and should take 15 minutes to complete. **Case Study Site Visits** Case studies will provide background and context fo r survey findings, as well as ga uge the fidelity of implementation of the intervention. Some st udy schools will be selected to participate (10 treatment schools will receive two visits and 5 control schools will receiv e one visit). Case study data collection activities will include:  **Student focus**  **groups –**  with 11 th and 12 th grade st udents to l earn about the impact of RT S on planning and preparing for college and career .  **RTS teachers –**  Te achers (or others) implementing the RTS curriculum will be asked to participate in an interview to discuss their experiences with RTS.  **Principals** – The school principal (or designee) will be interviewed to l earn about the implemen tation and impact of RTS, as well as supports for RTS imp lementation.  **Counselors** – School co unselors will be interviewed to learn what co llege and career planning assistance students received prior to RT S, changes in students after participating in RT S, and how RT S has impacted counselors’ practices and strategi es. For additional information, you may visit our website at: http://xxx.xxx.xxx **Yo ur Responsibilities**  Yo u have been asked to c omplete several tasks re lated to data co llection activities that will take place during the 2015 - 2016 school year

. These include pr oviding studen t informa tion, working with RTI on student session logistics, assisting with parental co nsent fo rm distribution and receipt, co nducting the st u dent survey sessions, and helping to coordinate interviews and focus groups. We w ill use the RT S secure website to exchange information, such as class and student lists. Please visit: https://xxx.xxx.xxx and log - in with the following information: Study ID: ############ Password: ####### Ta ble 1 shows the activities you will be asked to perform and a timeline for these activities.

### C - 2

**Ta ble 1. Activities Timeline**  **Ta sk**  **Timeline** Provide enrollment list of 11 th and 12 th grade students. Within 3 weeks of receipt of request Provide names of staff participants (teachers, counselor and administrator) Within one week of selection of classes Coordinate logistics fo r the student survey (dates, times, locations, consent type) Within 3 weeks of receipt of request Notify teachers, selected students, and parents of the study and benefits of participating Atleast 3 weeks prior to scheduled session Distribute parental consent fo rms to all selected students Atleast 3 weeks prior to scheduled session Monitor return of consent fo rms; distribute reminder letters as needed. Collect returned, signed f

orms and submit to RT I . During the 3 weeks from distribution to survey day Notify/remind teac hers and students about the data collection sessions One week prior and one da y prior to session Administer the student survey session, to include setting up the survey room and getting the students to the survey sessions On the da y of the session Coordinate student focus group s Three weeks prior to scheduled day **Providing Student List s**  All 11 th and 12 th grade students will be asked to c omplete the RT S survey. We ask you t o p ro vide a complete list of all 11 th and 12 th grade students enrolled at th e school. The list should include: name, district ID, class, date of birth, gender . Enr ollment lists should be uploaded to the secure RTS website. **Assisting with Student Survey Logistics** In order to m inimiz e disruption at the school on the day of the stude nt data collection, it is crucial that arrangements be made in advance. These arrangemen ts include:  Determine the date (s) fo r the student survey.  Determine the location and time(s) of the student session(s): will the st udent survey session(s) take place in a computer lab or classroom. Will surveys be completed in one or multiple sessions?  Determine best method of distributing consent fo rms, tr acking re turned, signed fo rms, co llecting re turned fo rms and submitting to RTI .  Wo rk with RTI to identify students w ith special needs.

### C - 3

 Notify students of the RTS study , the importance of participating, and explain test day activities.  Contact parents to encourage them to return the signed consent form (if applicable). **Parental Permission** Parental permission materials will be supplied by RTI a fe w weeks before the scheduled student survey session . We c an either mail them directly to parents or ask that you distribute the parent permission forms to the students.  RTI encourages the use of implicit/passive permission (which means students only re turn a fo rm if their parent denies permission to p articipate), as this option lessens the burden on school staff and results in higher participation r ates. If you are using this permission type, plea se record parent refusals onto the student tracking fo rm (STF) which will be provided with the permission forms.  Some schools require explicit/active co nsent. If your school requires active co nsent, parents ar e asked to r eturn signed permission fo rms to t h e school co ordinator . Please ke ep tr ack of the re turn of these fo rms on the STF. Please make sure an y re turned fo rms have one “box” checked, a parent/guardian signature (not just a printed name) and the name of the student. **Da y of**  **the Student**  **Survey**  In ord er to have valid results from the study , we need as man y students to p articipate as possible. We a re depending on you to m ake certain the st udents and te achers are aware of the date, time, and location fo r their participation and to g enerate enthusiasm. Th is oft en makes the difference in high student participation. Yo u ma y want to a dvertise RT S throughout the school and classroom or make a PAa nnouncement about the st udy the da y before and the day of the session to generate interest and encourage participat ion.  Gather participating studen ts in the survey location and administer the RTS student survey .  Complete survey tr acking fo rm to indicate which students complete the survey and which ones should be captured in a make - up session.  After completion of the fi rst ro und of surveys, determine if make - up sessions are needed so that students who were absent have an opportunity to participate.  Once all students have completed the survey , r eturn all related materials (tracking forms, consent forms, etc. ) to RTI. **Assi sting with**  **Case Study Site Visits** We w ill ask fo r your assistance with scheduling the student fo cus groups and staff interviews that will be conducted for the case study site visits. RTI will be in co ntact with yo u to t rack the return of consent fo rms, as well as exclusion statuses fo r students. Re minder fo rms will be sent home as needed. C heck the permission fo rms on the day of the first session to make sure we do not include anyone whose parents have not granted permission. Please ke ep the returned parent permission forms in a locked or secure location and fax any returned forms from your school at the end of the data collection to a secure fax machine at RTI. **To ke**  **n of Appreciation** As a token of our apprecia tion for your time and energy with RT S , y ou will re ceive < $100 FOR SITE VISIT or $75 NO SITE VISIT> at the completion of the study . 

### THANK **YO U**  fo r your help to m ake RTS a s uccess!! We g reatly appreciate your time and assistance!

### C - 4 **Draft Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)**  **Roads to Success: A Randomized Study of College and Career Preparation Curriculum in North Dakota**  **F requently**  **A sked**  **Q uestions**  **What is Roads to Success (RTS) ?**  Roads to Success (RTS) is a guided curriculum designed to integrate college - and career - planning resources within classroom less ons. RTS offers innovative strategies to help young people forge connections between their school experiences and their aspirations for adulthood. **What is the purpose of this study?** To study the effectiveness of part of a college and career preparation curriculum – provided as part of the Roads to Success program – in enhancing 11 th and 12 th graders’ college and career aspirations, planning for postsecondary transitions and life , and attitudes toward education and careers. As part of this study, we will specifically examine the college access and career development curriculum to 11 th and 12 th graders. **Who is participating in this study?** North Dakota public high schools and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools with both an 11 th and 12 th grade will be asked to participate. Schools will be randomly assigned to the treatment or control conditions and all 11 th and 12 th grade students in a treatment school will be provided with RTS instruction. **Who is sponsoring Roads to Success**  **, and who is conducting it?** The National Career for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education, RTI International, and FHI 360 on this study. The National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE ), funded by the US Department of Education, performs scientifically based research and evaluation to expand the understanding, increase the effectiveness, and improve the delivery of career and technical education (CTE). RTI In ternational is one of the world’s leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing i ntegrated, locally driven solutions. **What is the outcome of participation?** The intervention planned as part of this study will be for one academic year and examine the end - of- year outcomes of 11 th

- and 12 th

- graders. Given this time horizon, the research q uestions for this study focus on concrete activities or specific student interests that are the target of each grade’s intervention. At the 11 th grade, does one year of RTS instruction increase the percentage of students:
 With specific senior - year coursetaking plans?  Having visited a college or university? Does RTS increase the number of visits?  Having taken or registered for workforce development assessments such as the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Ba ttery (ASVAB), and the ACT WorkKeys Foundational and Personal Assessments?  Reporting preparation of a resume?  Reporting career exploration activities such as job shadowing, attendance at career fairs, internships, or apprenticeships?  With any interest in o ne or more specific careers?  With high interest in a specific career? At the 12 th grade, does one year of RTS instruction increase the percentage of students:

### C - 5

 Applying to college, overall and by level (technical or trade school, two - year community college , or four - year college)? Does RTS increase the number of college applications, overall and by level?  Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?  Accepted to or registered at college for the fall semester, overall and by level? Does RT S increase the number of acceptances?  Reporting preparation of a resume?  Applying for a job?  With a job offer?  With any interest in one or more specific careers?  With high interest in a specific career?  Planning to major in an area related to career intere sts? **What does participation**  **in Roads to Success involve ?**  Treatment schools will implement the RTS curriculum to all their 11 th and 12 th graders during the 2015 - 16 school year. Instruction will be delivered by teachers, guidance counselors, or hired career advisors . In addition, teachers and students in the treatment schools will be asked to complete surveys. Principals in both treatment and control schools will be ask to complete a survey. Site visits will be conducted in select treatment and cont rol schools. All data collection procedures will be fully in accord with pertinent regulations of both the U.S. Department of Education and the school district, and will be approved by RTI’s credentialed Human Subjects Committee. **What are the benefits to participating in the study?**  Schools that implement RTS will receive the prescribed RTS curriculum for 11 th and 12 th graders and key models from earlier grades. Instructors will receive training from R egional E ducation A ssociation (REA) coordinators or one of the four career resource coordinators (CRC) in the state. ND Department of CTE, along with REA coordinators, will provide support for the instruction throughout the year. School coordinators and principals in both treatment and c ontrol schools will receive a small honorarium. Each control school will receive $1000.

### C - 6 **Implied Parent Permission Letter and Form** Dear Parent/Guardian: In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offer s after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7th grade through high school. The study is being conducted under c ontract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization based in North Carolina. After all participating schools were identified, half were assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half will serve as the control group . Your teenager’s school was selected to serve as a [INSERT TREATMENT OR CONTROL] school. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors will be provided with the 11th and 12th grade curriculum during the 2015

- 2016 school year. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools will be collected in order to compare the impact of the program. This baseline survey will link survey and participation data to North Dakota’s statewide longitudinal data system (SLEDS). In addition, the study w ill conduct site visits to select treatment and control schools to conduct interviews and focus groups to gain a thorough understanding of how the curriculum is being implemented; the successes and challenges faced by instructors and students in learning f

rom the RTS material; and the differences between schools implementing the curriculum and those not. The U.S. Department of Education is authorized by federal law (Public Law 107

- 279) to conduct Roads to Success. Data will **be used only for statistical pur poses and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any**  **other purpose except as required by law** (Public Law 107

- 279, Section 183) **.** No individual data (such as names or addresses) will be reported. Participation is voluntary and there is no penalty if you or your teenager decides not to participate. Your teenager may choose not to answer any question. There are no risks to your teenager from taking part in the study. **The data collected will be used in analyses to understand students’ behaviors r elated to college**  **application (including two -** **year and technical/trade schools), college enrollment if accepted (including name of school, living arrangements, and costs), financial aid, and immediate plans for work (including jobs**  **applied for, job offers), in addition to long** **- term career and educational goals.**  If you allow your teenager to participate, you do not need to return this form. If for any reason you object to his or her participation, please fill out the enclosed form and return it to his/her s chool as soon as possible. The enclosed Frequently Asked Questions sheet provides more information about Roads to Success. If you have questions about t he study please call Mr. Ben Dalton at RTI, toll free at 800
-334
-8571 ext. 27228 between 9 AM and 5 P M Eastern time, Monday through Friday. RTI is a non
- profit research organization in North Carolina that has been contracted to collect the data. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protecti on toll
- free at 1
-866
- 214
-2043. Both Mr. Dalton and staff from the Office for Research Protection can be reached at: RTI, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important research. Sincerely,

### C - 7

Roads	to	Success – North	Dakota PARENT PERMISSION	FORM **IF YOU GRA NT YOUR PERMISSION FOR YOUR TEENA** **GER TO PA RTICIPA**  **TE IN THE STUDY, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RETURN THIS FORM.**  IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT TO YOUR TEENAGER’S PARTICIPATION IN Roads to Success, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR TEENAGER’S SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. **I DO NOT**  **GRA NT PERMISSION**  for my teenager, _______________________________, to participate in the Roads to Success Study. (print student name) Please sign and return only if you do not grant permission for your teenager to participate.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ (Signature of parent or guardian) AND Print parent/guardian name: _______________________________________________________ Date of signature:

________________________________ _______________________ (___________)

________________________________ _________________________ Area code Telephone number

____________________________________________________________________ ______ Email address PLEASE PRINT: Student	name:

________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________ School name:

________________________________ __________________________ FOR OFFICE USE ONLY: Student ID:

_______________________________

### C - 8 **Principal Survey Letter (Treatment and Control Schools)** [ Date] «adminname» «schoolname» «addr1» «addr2» «citystzip» Web Address: Your Study ID: «caseID» Your Password: «passwd» Dear «adminname» : In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offer s after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7th grade through high school. As part of this effort, NCICTE is co nducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study involving the random assignment of schools to the 11th and 12th grade components of RTS. RTI International and FHI 360 have been contracted to conduct the study. After all participating schools were ident ified, half were assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half are serving as the control group. As you know, your school is in the [TREATMENT OR CONTROL] group. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools are being collected in order to compare the impact of the program. We are asking you to complete a 30

- minute web

- based survey to provide information on your school’s college and career planning activities offered to students. To access the survey, please use the web address and your unique study ID and password provided above. Data collected are used **only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law**  (Public Law 107
- 279, Section 183). The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. The enclosed Frequently Asked Questions sheet provides more information about Roads to Success. If you have questio ns about the study please call D r. Ben Dalton at RTI, toll free at 800

- 334
- 8571 ext. 27228 between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time, Monday through Friday. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection toll

- free at 1

- 866
- 214
- 2043. Both D r. Dalton and staff from the Office for Research Protection can be reached at: RTI, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important research. Sincerely, Enclosure

### C - 9 **Student Baseline Survey Letter (Treatment and Control Schools)** [DATE] <Student_fname> <Student_lname> Web Address: <student_website> <ADDR1> Your STUDY ID: <XXXXXXX> <ADDR2> Your PASSWORD: <XXXXXXX>n <CITY STATE ZIP> Dear <Student_fname>: In an ongoing effort to ensure college and career readiness, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offers after

- school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, and a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7th grade through high school. The study is being conducted under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization based in North Carolina. After all participating schools were identified, half were assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, whi le the other half will serve as the control group. Your school has been selected to serve as a [INSERT TREATMENT OR CONTROL] school. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors will be provided with the 11th and 12th grade curriculum during the 2015

- 2016 school year. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools will be collected in order to compare the impact of the program. We are asking you to complete a 30

- minute web

- based survey to provide information on potential college applications, college enrollment, financial aid, and plans for work. The survey will also ask about your long

- term career and educational goals. To access the survey, please use the web address and your unique study ID and password provided above. Data collected are used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (Public Law 107

- 279, Section 183). The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. The enclosed Frequently Asked Questions sheet provides more information about Roads to Success. If you have questio ns about the study please call D r. Ben Dalton at RTI, toll free at 800

- 334
- 8571 ext. 27228 between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time, Monday through Friday. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection toll

- free at 1

- 866
- 214
- 2 043. Both Dr . Dalton and staff from the Office for Research Protection can be reached at: RTI, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important research. Sincerely,

### C - 10 **Student End -**  **of**

**- Year S**  **urvey Letter (Treatment and Control Schools)** [DATE] <Student_fname> <Student_lname> Web Address: <student_website> <ADDR1> Your STUDY ID: <XXXXXXX> <ADDR2> Your PASSWORD: <XXXXXXX>n <CITY STATE ZIP> Dear <Student_fname>: As you may remember, the National Center for Innovation in Career and Technical Education (NCICTE) is working with stakeholders and providers in North Dakota to implement the Roads to Success (RTS) program. RTS offers after

school programs, workforce and leadership development programs, an d a college and career planning curriculum designed to enhance the academic and career readiness of students from 7th grade through high school. The study is being conducted under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization based in N orth Carolina. After all participating schools were identified, half were assigned (by lottery) to implement the RTS curriculum, while the other half will serve as the control group. Your school was selected to serve as a [INSERT TREATMENT OR CONTROL] scho ol. In treatment schools, juniors and seniors were provided with the 11th and 12th grade curriculum during the 2015

- 2016 school year. Data from students, teachers, and other staff from both groups of schools are being collected in order to compare the imp act of the program. We are asking you to again complete a 30

- minute web

- based survey to provide information on potential college applications, college enrollment, financial aid, and plans for work. The survey will also ask about your long

- term career and educational goals. To access the survey, please use the web address and your unique study ID and password provided above. Data collected are used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpo se except as required by law (Public Law 107

- 279, Section 183). The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. The enclosed Frequently Asked Questions sheet provides more information about Roads to Success. If you have questio ns about the study please call D r. Ben Dalton at RTI, toll free at 800

- 334
- 8571 ext. 27228 between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time, Monday through Friday. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection toll

- free at 1

- 866
- 214
- 2043. Both D r. Dalton and staff from the Office for Research Protection can be reached at: RTI, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 2 7709. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important research. Sincerely,

### C - 11 **Teacher Survey Letter (Treatment Schools Only)** [Date] <TEACHER NAME> <SCHOOL NAME> Web Address: www.xxx.xxx.gov <ADDR1> Your STUDY ID: <XXXXXXX> <ADDR1> Your PASSWORD: <XXXXXXX>m <CITY STATE ZIP> Dear <Teacher Name>: As you are aware, your school is participating in the Roads to Success (RTS) study. We appreciate your work with the RTS curriculum this semester. As part of the study, we are asking you to complete a 30

- minute web

- based survey that provides information about RTS topics covered and activities completed during the past semester. To access the survey, please use the web address and your unique study ID and password provided above. You will receive a check for <$25> within a few weeks of completing the survey as a token of our appreciation. Data collected are used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpos e except as required by law (Public Law 107

- 279, Section 183). The North Dakota Department of Education supports this important study as a key step in promoting methods to ensure student readiness for college and career. If you have questio ns about the study please call D r. Ben Dalton at RTI, toll free at 800

- 334
- 8571 ext. 27228 between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time, Monday through Friday. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call RTI’s Office for Research Protection toll

- free at 1

- 866
- 214
- 2043. Both D r. Dalton and staff from the Office for Research Protection can be reached at: RTI, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important research. Sincerely,