A1. What is the Exiting Student Follow-up Data Collection?

In an effort to better understand the post-high school paths of students, the general assembly and the Ohio Department of Education are developing a new exiting student follow-up collection to meet requirements in state and federal law. Information collected on students within the Exiting Student Follow-up collection encompasses three program areas: Accountability, Career and Technical Education and Exceptional Children.

For the Accountability program area the consequences for non-reporting or reporting students as “unknown” on the exiting student follow-up collection are limited to the public display of low post-graduation status rates. In the future the Department or the general public may leverage these data points for a variety of purposes including the development of educational policy or practices. The availability of high quality and complete datasets for planning and research enhances the likelihood that these data-driven decisions will have an impact on students’ post-high school experiences and success.

Historically, districts and schools have reported follow-up information on exiting career-technical education students and students with disabilities to the Department. The new data collection will build one seamless approach for reporting the post-high school outcomes for all students. More information is available on the Exiting Student Collection webpage. 

EMIS Manual Section 2.23: Exiting Student Follow-Up (FW) Record includes general guidelines for reporting this record, a table that indicates which elements are required reporting for each group of students, and reporting guidance for the included elements.

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A2. Where will these data be reported? What are the measures for the 'GRAD' collection?
These data will be published on the Ohio School Report Cards for schools and districts starting with the 2022-2023 school year report card that will be released in September 2023.
 
The measures are focused on students who graduated in the prior school year (2021-2022 school year for the 2023 report card) and went on to enroll in post-secondary institutions, registered in apprenticeship programs, attained employment or enlisted in a branch of the armed forces. The categories are not mutually exclusive – meaning a student can count in more than one category.

• Percent of graduates enrolled in a post-secondary institution
  • Percent enrolled specifically in a four-year institution
  • Percent enrolled specifically in a two-year institution
  • Percent enrolled specifically in an Ohio Technical Center or equivalent
  • Percent enrolled in ‘Other’ institutions
• Percent of graduates enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program or equivalent
• Percent of graduates who have attained gainful employment
• Percent of graduates enlisted in a branch of the armed forces
• Percent of graduates who did not provide follow-up information, ‘unknown’

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A3. What students will be included in the reported measures on the Ohio School Report Cards?
The reported measures are specific to all graduates from the prior school year. They are not based on a graduation cohort.  
 

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A4. Will there be opportunities to review the data and see how students count in the measures?
The Department will provide reports back to districts throughout the Exiting Student Follow-up collection that contain student-level information related to what data has been reported for each student. As the Department finalizes business rules for each report card metric, additional reports will be produced to aid districts in understanding how each student counts within each measure.
 

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A5. How many attempts at collecting the information are expected?
The Department does not have a requirement on the number of attempts to collect this information. The number of attempts is at the discretion of the district and/or school as they develop collection plans and strategies. The Office of Graduate Success at the Department has supports and suggestions available on the Exiting Student Collection webpage.

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A6. Does the Department of Education provide guidance documents to support districts in following up with students?
Resources for the Exiting Student Follow-up Collection are being developed by the Department. Reporting requirements and supports will be centrally located here. Make sure to check this page often for the most up to date exiting student collection information and resources.
 

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A7. Is a district required to use the Department’s provided resources?
No, the resources developed are a tool districts can use in following up on their students. Districts are encouraged to use any resources that meet their needs.
 

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A8. Are these data used for any other reasons?
Information collected on students within the Exiting Student Follow-up collection encompasses three program areas: Accountability, Career and Technical Education and Exceptional Children. These data are used to meet a variety of state- and federal-reporting requirements. For more information the Exiting Student Follow-up Collection and data usage please visit the Exiting Student Collection webpage.
 

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I have a question that's not listed here. Where do I go?

For general questions, email contact.center@education.ohio.gov or call the Department’s toll-free number at (877) 644-6338.

For accountability or report card questions, email accountability@education.ohio.gov or call the Office of Accountability at (614) 466-5853. 

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