On the State of Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Thursday, September 21st | 2:00-3:00pm

As students re-enter school buildings this fall, we know that mental health challenges are on the rise for adolescents and we need to show up to support the well-being of young people in our communities. Dr. Jorge Verlenden (Behavioral Health Scientist at the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the CDC) will share the CDC's latest research on the current state of mental health for adolescents in the United States and in Chicago, including disparities in mental health within specific student populations. She will highlight what is important for middle school and high school educators and community-based organizations to know about mental health data. Dr. Verlenden will also share what mental health interventions and supports work best for young people.

RSVP for this Research Spotlight here

Annual Update: The Educational Attainment of Chicago Public Schools Students
Thursday, October 12th | 12:00-1:00pm

The To&Through Project and UChicago Consortium will share their newest report on the 2022 Educational Attainment of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Students, which highlights the trends of CPS students graduating high school and pursuing college degrees and certificates. This presentation will explore data on educational attainment through the 2021-2022 school year for the district, for students of different race/ethnicity groups, for diverse learners, and for English language learners in CPS.

RSVP for this Report Release here

Inquiry and Action: The To&Through Milestones In-Person Tool Workshop 
Thursday, November 9th | 12:00-1:30pm

This 90-minute in-person workshop will allow participants to explore the To&Through Milestone Tool and learn how the data can be used to inform the support efforts of Chicago Public Schools students on their paths to high school and college completion. Participants will be able to work side by side with To&Through Tool Experts to explore the Milestones Tool, learn helpful navigation strategies, and practice sharing findings that can inform their work to support CPS students.

The workshop will be in-person at Bottom Line (200 N La Salle St Ste. 2175, Chicago, IL 60601)

*Attendance is limited, so please confirm your RSVP ASAP to reserve your spot

 RSVP for this in-person workshop here

A Conversation on the Finishing in Four Years Fallacy: 4-Year vs. 6-year Bachelor's Degree Completion Rates
Thursday, December 5 | 2:00-3:00pm

Join the To&Through Project and UChicago Consortium for the release of a new research brief and student stories series focused on CPS graduates' time to college completion. Presenters will share insights from the new research brief “The Finishing in Four Years Fallacy: 4-year versus 6-year Bachelor’s Degree Completion Rates.” The report examines the extent to which four-year completion rates differ from six-year rates to determine whether the focus on six-year rates may be limiting the ability of students, families, counselors, and higher education institutions from having more complete information to make decisions about college enrollment and students’ experiences. This event will also feature a response from CPS alumni and other postsecondary stakeholders discussing the impact of this research.

RSVP for this conversation here

Dr. Sarah Cashdollar will present IWERC’s research on access to dual credit coursework in the state of Illinois. Dr. Cashdollar is Associate Director of IWERC Research, Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative, University of Illinois.

Shayna Balting (Data Narrator) and David Bennett (Assoc ED) will present on UtmostU’s use of monthly college student survey data to shape post-secondary coach interventions as part of a larger system of post-secondary supports. The UtmostU network supports 16 schools and community-based organizations (CBOs), and over 1,000 Chicago-area college students through a shared tech platform, community learning, and resource collaboration.

Dr. Glenance Green and Shari Runner will present on the Black Researchers Collective's efforts to train and equip communities with the research tools to be more civically engaged and policy informed. Glenance and Shari are the co-founders of the Black Researcher Collective.

Yessica Vargas will present on the expansion of the Student Stories initiative. These stories aim to humanize quantitative To&Through findings by zooming in on individual CPS student journeys to highlight the successes, challenges, and complexities that exist across the many post secondary pathways chosen by CPS graduates. Yessica is the Engagement Analyst for the To&Through Project.

Thomas Goodwin and Frank Miller will provide a presentation highlighting Embarc Chicago's utilization of Postsecondary Success (PSS) metrics, including non-college options, to drive and enhance Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) outcomes. Additionally, they will explore the reciprocal relationship between SEL measures and the enhancement of the PSS curriculum. Thomas is the Director of Data & Analytics and Frank is the Lead Postsecondary Success Coach at Embarc.