Tracking Student Progress Through Basic Skills: A Discipline Framework
Janet Fulks, Bakersfield College
Marcy Alancraig, Cabrillo College
ASCCC Basic Skills Webinar Series
Please log into the phone as well as the computer with the same code 459192
Please put phones on mute *6We will start at 11:00
Tracking Student Progress Through Basic Skills: A Discipline Framework
Janet Fulks, Bakersfield College
Marcy Alancraig, Cabrillo College
ASCCC Basic Skills Webinar Series
Outcomes for this Session
• Relate the story of CB 21 coding for basic skills
Demonstrate what this project might mean for your college
How do you define basic skills? Type the answer in the chat box.
Title 5
• math
• reading
• writing
• ESL
Basic Skills improvement was only 50%
ESL improvement only 47.4%
There was no movement for a decade.
THE MYSTERY
Why did the AARC report reveal that less than half the students in basic skills and ESL were progressing?
To find the clues
First we need some basics
Every course is described or defined by course basic codes (CB coding) that assign data elements to allow reporting and analysis according to specific curriculum functions.
Uses of Course Coding
The following represent a few reports created purely on the MIS * coding without ever referencing the Course Outline of Record:
• Allocation of funding to the colleges• Census data• FTES counts for apportionment• FTEF counts for staffing reports• Equity reporting• Reporting to the federal database IPEDS• Report to the California database CPEC
• Report to the state legislature ARCC – Accountability report for California Community Colleges
• * MIS = Management Information Systems
Enrollments(SX)
StudentDemographics
(SB)Sections
CoursesFin.Aid
Assess.
PBS
VTEA
Matric.
Pgm.Awds.
Emp.Demo.
Sessions
Calendar Assignments
EOPSDSPS
Emp.Assign.
Cal-WORKs
CCC MIS Database
How is the data used?
The data, based upon the coding, can be used to
Justify funding increases or decreases
Provide a rationale for policies
Provide accountability for expenditures such as Perkins and Basic Skills Initiative Dollars
Program review
Educational improvement
ARCC Report
• Basic Skills Success
Basic Skills Progress – progress up the levels CB
A to B to C to college level
Basic Skills Supplemental Report
Basic Skills Success and Basic Skills progress by discipline
Math (4 levels creditReading (4 levels)Writing/English (4 levels)ESL (writing, reading, speaking/listening, 6 levels; integrated)
Plus number of sections & assessment levels & noncredit
The Problem Discovered!
The Coding was Not Consistent with the Curriculum
CB 21 had no consistent definition
Used to mean “courses prior to college/transfer” but …
What is transfer level?
What is college level? Prior to Fall 2009 – meant graduation requirements
Currently
graduation requirements = intermediate algebra
(college level but not transferable)
Currently Title 5 allows Algebra as degree applicable which then dictates that this is equivalent to college level .
Student Success Conference 2009
Sample Coding – Credit Courses only College #1 CB04 Degree applicability or not CB08 Basic Skills or not CB 21 -
levels Elementary Geometry CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Intermediate Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Elementary Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills B Pre-algebra CB04= N NOT Degree Applicable CB08=B Basic Skills C College #2 Elementary Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Arithmetic CB04= N NOT Degree Applicable CB08=B Basic Skills B College #3 Elementary Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Elementary Algebra- 1st half CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Elementary Algebra -2nd half CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Intermediate Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A College #4 Intermediate Algebra CB04= D Degree Applicable CB08=N Not basic Skills A Basic Mathematics CB04= N NOT Degree Applicable CB08=B Basic Skills C Beginning Algebra CB04= N NOT Degree Applicable CB08=B Basic Skills Y
Coding ProblemsSome CB coding was incorrect
All coded at the same CB 21 level
CB 21 coded backwards or inconsistently
Some courses are incorrectly identified as transfer (CB 05)
Some courses are incorrectly identified as degree applicable – contrary to Title 5 (CB 08)
Some courses are NOT identified as Basic Skills when they were basic skills
Some courses were placed in the wrong TOP codes
The solution to the Problem!
Gather Faculty to create rubrics to define what each level below transfer means
Student Success Conference 2009
ASCCC Organized Meetings
English
Reading
Mathematics
ESL
Non-Credit
CB 21 RubricsDeveloped by over 350 faculty
Work included national literature research
Created CB 21 rubrics for statewide levels of all courses within common guidelines
Vetted by over 300 faculty
Shared with professional groups (CATESOL, ECCTYC, CMC3,
CRLA)
Officially adopted by all 110 colleges April 2009
RESULTS……..
• Corrected existing coding inconsistencies
Involved collaboration of faculty, selected curriculum committee members, discipline faculty, CIOs and researchers
Student Success Conference 2009
Discipline Credit Noncredit Likely bridge noncredit to credit
Math Four levels CB 21 A, B, C, D Six levels CB 21 A, B, C, D, E, F
Levels C & D
English Four levels CB 21 A, B, C, D Seven levels CB 21 A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Level B or C
Reading Four levels CB 21A, B, C, D
Five levels CB 21A, B, C, D, E
Level A or B
ESL 6 levels ESL Reading CB 21A, B, C, D, E, F
8 levels ESL Integrated CB 21A,B,C,D,E, F, G, H
Includes vocational and Cultural skills
Most noncredit end 2 levels prior to English 1 A at Level B
6 levels ESL Writing CB 21A, B, C, D, E, F
6 levels ESL Speaking & Listening CB 21A, B, C, D, E, F
Where are the Rubrics and Guidelines?
They can be found at http://www.cccbsi.org
And the CCCCO website
Student Success Conference 2009
How can you use the rubrics?
Let’s answer a few key questions
Type in your answer to the questions below
? This CB21 recoding process
A. required new TOP codes for all ESL, basic skills math, English and reading
B. corrected existing inaccuracies in CB 21 coding
C. aligned statewide levels of basic skills courses
D. helped correct other CB data elements
E. did all of the above
? Which of the basic skills courses are coded with CB 21
?A. Reading, math, ESL and writing (English)
courses in a sequence
B. All reading, math, ESL and writing (English) basic skills courses
C. Study Skills courses
D. Transfer courses
E. None – all of the above are basic skills
A.Yes
B.No
C.Under some specific conditions
? Can you have more than one course on a specific
CB21 level ?
A. Yes, it is allowable
B. No, it is not allowable
C. Yes, it is allowable but you should examine why
Deleted T.O.P. codes New T.O.P. Code or Existing Codes
4930.21 – Writing4930.70 – Reading Skills Development 4930.71 – Reading Skills, College Level
1501.00 – English (writing)1520.00 – Reading
4930.40 – Career Technical Computational Skills4930.41 – Pre-Algebra (Basic Math/Arithmetic)4930.42 – Elementary Algebra
1701.00 – Mathematics, General1702.00 – Mathematics Skills
4930.20 – Communication Skills 1506.00 – Speech Communication or 4930.33 – Learning Skills, Speech Impairedor Other appropriate T.O.P. codes
4930.80 – ESL–Intermediate4930.81 – ESL–Advanced4930.82 – ESL–Elementary4930.83 – ESL–Degree-applicable
4930.84 – ESL Writing4930.85 – ESL Reading4930.86 – ESL Speaking/Listening4930.87 – ESL Integrated
4930.91 – ESL Civics 4930.87 – ESL Integrated or 4930.90 – Citizenship
? When courses are coded, are you allowed to have gaps?
For instance CB 21 D,C,A ?
A. Yes gaps are allowable
B. No gaps are not allowable
C. You may have gaps but this should result in discussions about your curriculum
Things to ConsiderStudent success:
Should you have more levels or fewer levels?
The longer the ladder the fewer students complete
Research indicates too many steps are a barrier to progress
There are TIPPING POINTS
Dialogue:
Stimulate discussions about basic skills and degree- applicable courses appropriate to your college vision, mission and culture
ARCC DATA Statewide RatesIndicator 2008 2009 2010 2011
Student Progress & Achievement 51.2% 51.8% 52.3% 53.6%
Completed 30 or more units 70.4% 71.2% 72.4% 72.8%
Fall to Fall Persistence 68.3% 69.2% 68.7% 67.6%
Voc Ed Course Completion 78.2% 77.7% 77.6% 77.0%
Basic Skills Course Completion 60.5% 60.5% 61.5% 61.4%
Basic Skills Course Improvement 50.0% 51.2% 53.8% 54.6%
ESL Course Improvement 44.7% 50.1% 50.2% 58.6%
Student Success Conference 2009
Coding Makes a BIG Difference in Outcomes
Reports!What will you do at your
college?How will you define basic
skills?
Thanks