This session will introduce the College Access Evidence Matrix, an informational resource designed to help college-access providers and educational leaders easily find proven interventions, aligned to the highest Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence standards, that can increase the likelihood that students successfully transition to postsecondary education and training. REL Appalachia staff will provide an orientation to the evidence matrix and demonstrate how it can be used for a variety of purposes, including identifying and selecting college access programs that have shown positive outcomes and verifying the evidence base for existing interventions.
This webinar supports policymakers, researchers, and funders in understanding the need, barriers, and solutions for conducting rigorous research in rural settings. To ground the discussion, REL Appalachia describes the findings of its systematic evidence review on nonacademic interventions to improve postsecondary success in rural settings. Then, panelists highlight the importance of conducting rigorous research; share the barriers particularly in rural settings; and discuss potential solutions to those barriers. The webinar allows researchers, policymakers, and funders to come together and discuss the gaps in rural research as well as potential solutions.
The National Center for Education Statistics STATS-DC Data Conference is an annual conference that convenes education researchers, policymakers, and data system managers interested in learning about updates on federal and national activities affecting data collection and reporting, and information about the best new approaches in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics. In this session, REL Appalachia (REL AP) and Virginia Department of Education staff share information about Virginia's state longitudinal data system (SLDS) and its uses in REL AP and beyond, for researchers and educational stakeholders. This session includes a presentation of a recent study that utilized Virginia's SLDS and a discussion about how REL partnerships can help inform policy and practice. The research study discussed in this session also provides information about career and technical education (CTE) policies in Virginia and can be of use to CTE staff and policymakers in other states.
The National Center for Education Statistics STATS-DC Data Conference is an annual conference that convenes education researchers, policymakers, and data system managers interested in learning about updates on federal and national activities affecting data collection and reporting, and information about the best new approaches in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics. In this session, REL Appalachia (REL AP) and Virginia Department of Education staff share information about Virginia's state longitudinal data system (SLDS) and its uses in REL AP and beyond, for researchers and educational stakeholders. This session includes a presentation of a recent study that utilized Virginia's SLDS and local district data to study mathematics course taking pathways of students who completed Algebra I in grades 7-9, examine mathematics outcomes of students who completed Algebra I in grade 7, and improve implementation of policies and practices that promote equitable access and success in mathematics.
Positive school culture is at the heart of the Simulated Workplace model. This webinar introduces participants to facilitator materials for a workshop series on leading school teams to use school culture survey data to identify and plan for program improvements. Participants learn how to embed the resources into their planning processes to identify opportunities for improvement, identify evidence-based practices aligned with those opportunities, and plan to implement the practices.
REL Appalachia (REL AP) staff introduced a new resource compilation for school counselors that shares research and strategies to promote non-academic skills to strengthen students' transition to postsecondary education and training. Designed for an array of stakeholders in Virginia, including school counselors, school administrators, college access providers, case managers, and secondary teachers, the resource compilation includes tools to support all students' postsecondary transitions.
Staff from REL AP, REL Northwest, and REL Southwest led a webinar on creating exceptional career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students for high-demand careers. REL staff shared real-world examples from three REL studies that used participant data to inform CTE program improvements that align with the needs of the 21st century workforce. The session provided participants with an opportunity to learn how states and districts across the country are using data to inform CTE program improvements and participate in break-out sessions for in-depth question and answer sessions focused on two research studies of their choice.
This virtual training webinar was the third of a three-part series on supports for strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. Presenters shared strategies for promoting social emotional preparedness for transitions to postsecondary.
School closures due to the COVID-19 crisis present a hurdle for students who are preparing to transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. In this virtual chat, REL Appalachia and our partners discussed logistical and nonacademic supports for keeping students on the path to postsecondary, such as supporting families in completing and making updates to FAFSA applications and understanding financial award letters and comparing costs, as well as addressing summer melt and providing students with social-emotional supports. Following a brief presentation, a panel answered questions from participants and discuss resources to address current concerns.
This virtual training webinar was the second of a three-part series on strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and training. Presenters shared strategies that can help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and college application requirements.
The Virginia College Access Network (VCAN) conference is an annual convening of educators including school counselors, college access professionals, university college and career readiness counselors, and leaders from schools and school districts who came together to share and learn about postsecondary transition best practices.
The Virginia College Access Network (VCAN) conference is an annual convening of educators including school counselors, college access professionals, university college and career readiness counselors, and leaders from schools and school districts who came together to share and learn about postsecondary transition best practices.
This virtual training webinar will be the first of a three-part series on strengthening the transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The webinar will focus on postsecondary knowledge including strategies that support student and family understanding of the expectations and norms of postsecondary education and training, and expose students and families to career paths.
Battelle for Kids and the National Rural Education Association (NREA) hosted their annual forum to advance 21st century education outcomes for rural students. On October 24, REL AP staff provided a short presentation at the plenary session to build conference attendees' awareness about the REL program.
REL AP staff presented a workshop and plenary session on postsecondary transitions and Academic and Career Plans (ACPs) for ten K—12 districts at Generating Pathways to Success, a conference hosted by Hamblen County Schools.
REL AP staff shared tools and resources on preparing students with social emotional skills for successful postsecondary transitions. The session provided research-based strategies for building school culture, growth mindset, and self-efficacy for all educators including teachers, principals, school counselors, leaders from schools and school districts, university college and career readiness counselors, and career and technical education (CTE) staff.
REL AP staff shard tools and resources on nonacademic strategies to support students' postsecondary transitions at the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Peer Group Conference. The VCCS Peer Group Conference is an annual convening for VCCS practitioner groups. REL AP staff presented the workshop, Building Bridges to College and Career: Supporting Self-Efficacy to VCCS career coaches who provide postsecondary transition services to high school students. The workshop shared research on the link between postsecondary transitions and social emotional skills and provided evidence-based strategies for developing self-efficacy, a social emotional skill that supports successful transition.
The NCAN conference is the premiere convening of professionals in the field of postsecondary access and success for underrepresented student groups. REL AP staff convened with college access leaders and professionals with the common goal of improving the postsecondary outcomes of all students. REL AP presented during a breakfast at NCAN for funders and districts interested in rural college readiness/transitions.
This workshop was designed to enhance REL staff's knowledge of and collaboration around measuring career readiness. Career readiness includes the knowledge, skills, and abilities to support students' transition to postsecondary education and training, and careers.
This symposium, hosted by the Niswonger Foundation, focused on methods for helping students establish and reach their career goals. Talented educators from across the region shared ideas, learn with peers, and develop networks that share a common purpose of student success. REL Appalachia staff presented a session to review and discuss the research related to the importance of parent and family engagement and college knowledge skills in relation to postsecondary transitions.
This year's Appalachian Education & Workforce Network Conference, entitled Learning and Earning: Pathways to Prosperity, focused on how high schools are preparing students to take advantage of the education and credentialing opportunities and how partnerships between education institutions and the workforce system are resulting in increased postsecondary education attainment and, more importantly, a stronger and better prepared and positioned workforce. REL Appalachia staff hosted the plenary session Building Bridges to College & Career: Nonacademic Support for Rural Students' Successful Transition with colleagues from REL Southeast and the United Way of Southwest Virginia.
This virtual discussion focused on supporting students in their transition to postsecondary. Attendees learned about and discussed an evidence-based summer counseling strategy designed to support students during the challenging transition between high school graduation and fall college enrollment. Participants discussed practical considerations for local adoption of summer counseling and heard from practitioners who have had success implementing transition supports.
The Rural College Access and Success Summit brought together teachers, principals, superintendents, legislators, non-profit leaders and many others to share ideas and strategies for ensuring that rural youth have the opportunity to successfully transition from high school to college and to career. REL Appalachia staff presented the session Mapping Our Way to Academic Success for More Students to share our work partnering with Kentucky teachers to develop Innovation Configuration (IC) Maps. IC Maps are a tool to help teachers improve their practice and boost academic success.
This half-day workshop was an opportunity for secondary and postsecondary educators and program leaders to network and discuss strategies for engaging families. The event shared evidence-based resources and build awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide families in the region as students explore opportunities after high school and prepare for the realities of postsecondary education.
This workshop was an opportunity for secondary and postsecondary practitioners to discuss strategies that can help students transition smoothly from high school to postsecondary education and training programs. Participants learned about evidence-based practices and build awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide students in the region during this important transition.
The
Rural College and Career Readiness partnership hosted a virtual professional learning opportunity to discuss the role of families in postsecondary planning and to learn about how research can be used to support identification and implementation of strategies that work. The webinar built on the previous workshop in the series
Family Engagement for Successful Student Transition.
The
Improving Postsecondary Transitions partnership presented this interactive session at the Virginia College Access Network Conference. The presenters discussed the evidence levels included in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) and facilitated activities to apply ESSA evidence levels to an intervention. Participants learned about REL Appalachia projects and provided input on project design to better address stakeholder needs.
This interactive training event discussed the importance of family engagement in postsecondary pursuits and strategies for schools and districts to strengthen family engagement. Presenters shared information about the REL Appalachia Rural College and Career Readiness partnership and opportunities for future support.
This half-day workshop was a unique opportunity for educators to network and discuss strategies that can help students transition smoothly from high school to postsecondary education and training programs. Participants learned about evidence-based practices and built awareness of the supports that educators and other professionals can provide students in the region during this important transition.
REL Appalachia hosted a workshop session on June 20 presenting data on the employment and financial benefits of postsecondary education and training and sharing research-based perspectives on rural students' participation in college. Facilitators guided participants through interactive activities to reflect on their own experiences as educators and advisors and consider research-based approaches to helping more students pursue postsecondary education as a pathway towards achieving their career dreams.
The Rural College and Career Readiness partnership met to review their partnership logic model, research agenda, and data catalog; identify which research agenda questions can be answered using the currently available data and which would require additional data; and discuss next steps for the partnership in implementing the research agenda.
The SWVA Economic Forum engages participants through a shared vision of regional collaboration, growth, and innovation for all of Southwest Virginia. REL AP staff convened with leaders in business, government, and community and economic development organizations with the common goal of improving the economic growth and diversification of the region. REL AP shared our work in promoting the success of traditionally underserved students in postsecondary education and careers through their partnership with education stakeholders in the region.
REL Appalachia hosted a session presenting data on the employment and financial benefits of postsecondary education and training and sharing research-based perspectives on rural students' participation in college. Facilitators guided participants through interactive activities to reflect on their own experiences as educators and advisors and consider research-based approaches to helping more students pursue postsecondary education as a pathway towards achieving their career dreams.
REL staff met with members of the Virginia Postsecondary Transitions partnership to co-develop a research agenda to guide the partnership's work.
REL staff met with school and district leaders and data specialists in the Kentucky Rural College Readiness Partnership to identify the data needed to answer research questions identified in the partnership's research agenda.
The event, hosted simultaneously at three of the community colleges in southwest Virginia, was an interactive, engaging day designed to increase secondary administrative and instructional leaders' awareness of the benefits of postsecondary education and training, the primary barriers to access, and the opportunities available in the region.