ORLANDO, Fla., May 8-10 — Florida College Access Network (FCAN) Talent Strong Summit participants received valuable insights during a Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED), breakout session presentation led by Michael Holt, Technical Partner and Ashton Terry, Senior Manager, The School District of Osceola County, Florida (SDOC).
Michael Holt shared CFEED’s latest research on post-secondary readiness and college readiness for Central Florida students. These findings unlock personalized academic journeys for students by analyzing 15 years of comprehensive data sourced from CFEED’s partner institutions; School District of Osceola County, Orange County Public Schools, Valencia College, University of Central Florida. Holt presented CFEED’s interactive readiness model and explained, “Our model ingests the student transcript, measuring to what degree a student’s transcript aligns with their academic path.”
The data looks at courses taken, the level of the course, the course rigor, the sequence, and the grades achieved. Factors such as course failures, repetitions, and subject performance in honors or AP classes can predict readiness for higher-level coursework. Advisors can leverage this information to guide students and to address course re-alignment paths. These insights have helped CFEED refine its vision, which now emphasizes student readiness over defining college success.
The data and research partnership supports students where it matters most. “If an institution wants to know what percentage of middle school students are eligible for advanced coursework, but aren’t participating, we have the data to support that visibility,” says Holt.
As the session unfolded, Ashton Terry shared his firsthand experience as a former principal, highlighting how CFEED’s interactive dashboard is revolutionizing classroom dynamics. The interactive model can pinpoint students’ needs at a granular level. Teachers can now intervene swiftly, fostering a more supportive learning environment.
“Our data delves into the essence of the student experience,” Holt explained, “from the courses they take to the grades they achieve, offering a panoramic view of their academic trajectory.” This depth of insight enables advisors to tailor guidance that steers students towards paths that resonate with their academic strengths.
Beyond the FCAN Talent Strong Summit, CFEED’s impact reverberates across Central Florida’s educational landscape. “We want the data to influence policy change,” says Terry. This holds true in CFEED’s collaborative efforts with institutions like OCPS yielding tangible results, with tailored programs emerging to support communities like the Parramore district. Through initiatives like Downtown Scholars, CFEED data is used to inform multifaceted approaches to empower students with post-secondary opportunities. “This is not a one size fit all approach,” says Holt.
We invite all interested parties to learn more about how CFEED’s research is making a difference in Central Florida’s educational landscape. For further insights and details on our impact, please visit our website at CFEED’s website or follow our updates on LinkedIn.
For more information, contact Diana Pienaar, CFEED Director, Valencia College, at dpienaar@valenciacollege.edu or visit http://www.cfeedhome.com.
About FCAN
Launched in 2012, FCAN is built on the foundation of ENLACE Florida, a statewide network of higher education institutions devoted to improving college access in higher education. Today, FCAN supports 18 community coalitions throughout the state called local college access networks that collectively represent over 700 organizations and institutions and 82% of the state’s population.
About CFEED
Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED) is a partnership, comprised of the Helios Education Foundation, the School District of Osceola County (SDOC), Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), Valencia College (Valencia), and the University of Central Florida (UCF), along with Midtown Consulting Group, that is engaged in a collaborative program to develop insights and create impacts for students in Central Florida.