Pennsylvania ADP Policy Agenda
Each member of the ADP Network has committed to a common policy agenda, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Highlights of this state's action plan are below. Click here to download a PDF of the complete plan.
Policies and Action Steps
- Align high school standards and assessments with the knowledge and skills required for success after high school. (August 2005–January 2007)
- Launch process with the K-12, postsecondary and business communities to define the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in credit-bearing courses in Pennsylvania colleges and universities and high-growth industries.
- Use national benchmarks, including ADP benchmarks, to identify gaps and revise high school standards as necessary. Also define high school Academic Achievement Essentials.
- Have postsecondary and business communities validate that if students meet the state's academic standards, they will be ready for success in college and careers.
- Have Achieve review standards and Academic Achievement Essentials.
- Revise school code to ensure that all students reach standards before graduation.
- Communicate Academic Achievement Essentials widely with support of postsecondary and business communities.
- Require all high school graduates to take challenging courses that actually prepare them for life after high school. (August 2005–January 2007)
- Require all Project 720 schools to require all high school students to take a college- and career-prep curriculum to graduate.
- Identify and research high-performing schools and their curricula and make policy recommendations on curriculum to Legislature.
- Develop a high-quality college- and career-prep curriculum in English that districts and schools can use.
- Streamline the assessment system so that the tests students take in high school also can serve as readiness tests for college and work. (August 2005–January 2007)
- Continue to build on recently completed study of correlation between state high school test and college placement exams so that state test can be used for placement purposes.
- Hold high schools accountable for graduating students who are ready for college or careers, and hold postsecondary institutions accountable for students' success once enrolled. (August 2005–August 2008)
- Through Project 720, continue to promote high schools' forming of regional partnerships to share data on how students are doing in postsecondary and what that means for reshaping high school curriculum and supports.
- Develop K–12 data system that is compatible with the postsecondary data system to allow more systemic understanding of state education pipeline and what the state needs to do to strengthen it.
- Close loopholes in alternative local exam use for high school graduation.
ADP Network Team
| Donna Cooper (Team Leader), Secretary, Governor's Office of Planning and Policy
Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, Secretary of Education Representative Dwight Evans, House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Dr. Judy Hample, Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Karl Girton, President, Pennsylvania State Board of Education. Daniel Fogarty, Manager of Management and Organizational Development, Carpenter Technologies Implementation team: Dr. Lori Shorr, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education Ian Rosenblum, Executive Policy Specialist, Governor's Policy Office Dr. Amy Hodges, PDE, lead implementer of Project 720, the Governor's High School Reform Initiative Don Spangler, Co-Director, Department of Education Policy Office Dr. James Gearity, Deputy Secretary for Postsecondary and Higher Education. |
The Governor's Commission on College and Career Success membership:
Dr. Karen S. Angello, Superintendent, Allentown School District Dr. Edna V. Baehre, President, Harrisburg Area Community College Dr. James E. Barker, Superintendent, Erie City School District Mr. Jermaine Beaumont, Intern, Office of Administration and Student, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Ms. Joan Benso, President/CEO, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children Dr. Jerry Bourdeaux, Principal, McCaskey Campus, Lancaster School District Dr. Robert W. Clark, Vocational Technical Director, Dauphin County Area Vocational Technical School Dr. Jeremy Cohen, Assistant Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, The Pennsylvania State University Honorable Donna Cooper, Secretary of Planning and Policy, Office of the Governor Ms. Pamela Crawley, Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs, Citizens Bank Honorable Frank Dermody, Member, House of Representatives Mr. Dan Fogarty, Director, Salaried Personnel and Development, Carpenter Technology Corporation Honorable Wayne D. Fontana, Member, Senate of Pennsylvania Mr. Karl R. Girton, Chairperson, State Board of Education Dr. Judy G. Hample, Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Mr. Fred J. Hartwigsen, Assistant to the President/CEO, External Affairs, UGI Corporation Mr. Alexander D. LaBant, Student, Greenwood High School Mr. F. Joseph Merlino, Director, Greater Philadelphia Secondary Mathematics Project, LaSalle University Dr. Francis J. Michelini, Chairperson, Council of Higher Education, State Board of Education Dr. Lorraine M. Mulfinger, Associate Professor and Director for Science Outreach, Juniata College Honorable Michael Nutter, Councilman, Philadelphia City Council Honorable Bernard O'Neill, Member, House of Representatives Honorable James J. Rhoades, Member, House of Representatives Ms. Irene Runco, High School Math Teacher, Woodland Hills High School Ms. Rosie Saez, Senior Vice President/Diversity Manager, Wachovia Bank Honorable Gerald Zahorchak, Acting Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education |
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