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Study Name

Working Group Name

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Our Working Group

What 1-2 things do you want to highlight about your working group? What problem are you trying to solve? (Perhaps draw from your fall 2024 research convening impact statements.)

Research Questions

  1. List questions here

Background OR Findings

Do you have findings to share yet? If so, what are 1-2 charts you could provide to showcase the findings? If findings are shared, what are some policy implications/recommendations? Why does this work matter?

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If findings are not yet ready, what background information would be most helpful to provide to set the context or tell the story of the problem? This could be a graphic representing your theory of action, problem of practice, or theoretical framework. You could also find a graphic from existing research that you’re drawing from.

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Our Approach

Tell about your research approach in 2-4 bullet points. Who are the key groups involved? What is your analytical approach?

Working Group Members

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Vanderbilt

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MNPS

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Study Name

Rapid Response Study

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Our Study

What 1-2 things do you want to highlight about your study? What problem are you trying to solve? (Perhaps draw from your fall 2024 research convening impact statements, if applicable.)

Research Questions

  • List questions here

Background OR Findings

Do you have findings to share yet? If so, what are 1-2 charts you could provide to showcase the findings? If findings are shared, what are some policy implications/recommendations? Why does this work matter?

​

If findings are not yet ready, what background information would be most helpful to provide to set the context or tell the story of the problem? This could be a graphic representing your theory of action, problem of practice, or theoretical framework. You could also find a graphic from existing research that you’re drawing from.

​

Our Approach

Tell about your research approach in 2-4 bullet points. Who are the key groups involved? What is your analytical approach?

Research Team Members

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Vanderbilt

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MNPS

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Improving Early Postsecondary Course

Access, Participation, and Success in MNPS

Postsecondary Readiness Working Group

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Our Working Group

The Postsecondary Readiness Working Group formed in Spring 2021 to identify district priorities and research opportunities. We co-constructed a research agenda, launched a demonstration study, and applied for external funding to support our work.

In May 2023, Vanderbilt University and MNPS were awarded a 3-year Institutional Challenge Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation.

Research Questions

  • What is the impact of EPSOs on high school and postsecondary outcomes in MNPS?
  • Are there differences in EPSO participation and success by student background? Do differences vary within and between EPSO types?
  • Are there differences in EPSO participation and success observed within schools versus between them?
  • Are there differences in EPSO participation explained by school-level resources, policies, and practices (e.g., advising) versus student-level influences (e.g., prior preparation, information, self-efficacy
  • 1)How can we improve EPSO participation and success for all students, and particularly underrepresented groups?

Background OR Findings

EPSOs are courses that provide a bridge to postsecondary by exposing students to college coursework and building foundational career skills. Most offer college credit:

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Historically marginalized populations and students with unique educational needs are least likely to enroll in/complete EPSOs in MNPS (and nationally).

MNPS high schools vary in school size and in their number and types of EPSO offerings. Schools are ordered from smallest to largest. Data from 2023-2024:

Our Approach

To address these questions, our team has been engaged in:

  • Quantitative analyses of student-level data that follows them from the early grades to postsecondary.
  • •Interviews with district and school leaders and staff and focus groups with students.
  • Co-design with three MNPS high schools.

An advisory panel of school and community stakeholders informs and reviews our work.

Working Group Members

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Vanderbilt

Sean Corcoran

Shaun Dougherty

Erin Henrick

Changhee Lee

Mary Smith

Melody Suite

Richard Welsh

MNPS

Sanjana Ballal-Link

Peter Busienei

Kevin Edwards

Meri Kock

Emily Munn

Matt Nelson

Kwame Nti

David Williams