Citizens’ Voices

A Partnership of Local Citizens

Indicators Project: Youth & Education

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“Sustainable Seattle” lists 8 youth and education indicators:

• High school graduation
• Ethnic diversity of teachers
• Art instruction
• Volunteer involvement in schools
• Juvenile crime
• Youth involvement in community service
• Equity in justice
• Adult literacy

In addition, at the Citizens’ Voices meeting on 27 January, these indicators were also suggested:

• Drug use
• Participation in extra-curricular activity & volunteerism
• Kindergarten readiness and early childhood education
• Perception that youth & children are valued by the community
• Underage consumption

Indicator:	Data Source:
Support-Young people need to experience support, care, and love from their families, neighbors, and many others. They need organizations and institutions that provide positive, supportive environments.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Empowerment-Young people need to be valued by their community and have opportunities to contribute to others. For this to occur, they must be safe and feel secure.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Boundaries and expectations-Young people need to know what is expected of them and whether activities and behaviors are "in bounds" and "out of bounds."	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Constructive use of time-Young people need constructive, enriching opportunities for growth through creative activities, youth programs	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Commitment to learning-Young people need to develop a lifelong commitment to education and learning.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Positive values-Young people need to develop strong values that guide their choices.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Social competencies-Young people need skills and competencies that equip them to make positive choices, to build relationships, and to succeed in life.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Positive identity-Young people need a strong sense of their own power, purpose, worth, and promise.	Search Institute: Annual Report of Developmental Assets
Levels of Education-rates of graduation, rates of post-secondary enrollment etc.	District Self-report & Mn Department of Education
Diversity of Teachers-Young people should be educated in an environment that is reflective of their own diversity.	District Self-report & Mn Department of Education

The coordinator for this group is Chris Boyce

Other members of the group include

R.S. Nithy

Carol Raymond

Susan Coultrap-McQuin

The next meeting for this group is

Not set

The Web discussion site for this group is

Not yet developed

For more information contact Susan Coultrap-McQuin (Susan.Coultrap-McQuin@mnsu.edu )

Joseph Larson

Indicators Project

Levels of Education

Description

This Indicator looked at the overall level of education the schools in our area where giving to the students who attend. The levels are shown by scores in basic tests as well as graduation rates of students in our public school system. It could take into account many other factors as well, but these two are most easily found,

Definition

All students coming out of grade school are required to have taken the Basic Standard Test in reading and math and in 10^th grade they are required to take the writing part of this test. These tests must be completed in order for students to be allowed to graduate. Graduation rates are the second part of the indicator. They are as you might imagine the percent of individuals who enroll into public schools as ninth-grades and graduate with a high-school degree. This indicator is not a full view of the area’s education because its limited to public school, but it gives a good indication of how we are doing.

Interpret

From the information I was able to obtain from our local school district as well as the state, I would say our district as a whole is doing a good job. Graduation Rates as well as the percentage of students passing the Basic Standard Tests are higher here in Mankato than the states average. This shows to me we have a good school system, one which helps its children achieve in their academic lives.

Evaluation

The graph above shows the percent passing the basic tests in their first try coming out of grade school. For the year of 2003 the Mankato averages where in reading 85% and in math 75%. Now compare those to the State averaged of 81% and 71% respectively, you see that on average 4% more students are able to pass these tests than the average for our State. Graduation Rates in our district also are higher than the average for our state. Mankato shows an 82.8% graduation rate versus a 78.5% statewide average. From the information I obtained I can say Mankato’s school district is helping its students achieve shown by the higher than average scores across the board.

Resources

- Mankato School District

- Admin Minnesota http://server.admin.state.mn.us/children/indicator.html?Id=14&G=29&CI=18#local

- Mankato Area Public Schools

http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/annualreport/page2.php#resul

	Graduated, Total	Dropped out, Black/ African American	Dropped out, Hispanic	Dropped out, White	Continued, Total	Continued, Hispanic	Continued, White	Graduated, Asian or Pacific Islander	Graduated, Black/ African American	Graduated, Hispanic	Graduated, White	Dropped out, Total Local data
1996	78.5%	44.0%	38.7%	8.7%	10.2%	16.5%	9.1%	69.0%	33.1%	44.3%	82.2%	11.3%
1997	78.2%	39.8%	37.6%	8.7%	10.5%	18.7%	9.3%	68.2%	35.6%	45.0%	81.9%	11.3%
1998	78.0%	38.4%	32.8%	8.5%	11.0%	18.0%	9.7%	67.5%	35.9%	50.1%	81.9%	11.1%
1999	78.9%	36.4%	31.2%	8.2%	10.4%	20.6%	9.0%	68.8%	38.6%	48.5%	82.8%	10.7%
2000	78.5%	37.4%	33.0%	8.0%	10.8%	19.9%	9.2%	68.0%	37.0%	43.9%	82.8%	10.7%

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