Launch Dashboard

Data Definitions:
Terms and Definitions

The Youth Opportunity DashboardTM is designed to turn data into systemic change.

By tracking a holistic set of critical youth outcomes across Chicago, this Dashboard unites communities and youth-serving organizations with the data they need to ensure youth are connected to opportunity and prepared for success in school, career and life.

The Youth Opportunity Dashboard, “Paints perhaps the most comprehensive picture to date of how children in each Chicago community are faring.”
—Sarah Karp, WBEZ

Dashboard Overview

The Youth Opportunity Dashboard was modeled in part from the My Brother’s Keeper’s Equity Framework, which was created to address opportunity gaps boys and young men of color face. This framework identifies crucial milestones that measure how youth are connected to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.

The Youth Opportunity Dashboard:

  • Tracks 31 outcomes that span youth development
  • Consists of 11 primary outcomes and 20 secondary outcomes
  • Displays data across Chicago’s 77 communities, which can be filtered by community area, health equity zone, and school board districts
  • Contains data that is all publicly available

Setting the Stage

Our View of Youth Opportunity

When data is used to track outcomes, we can improve young people’s access to the supports they need to thrive in school, career, and life.

To address persistent opportunity gaps that exist for young people across the city, the support we provide must:

Be available cradle-to-career, at every stage of youth development

Consider and proactively address historical policies and systemic racism

Authentically engage communities and incorporate diverse voices

Holistically target academic, social-emotional, and career outcomes

Milestones

Milestone 1

Entering School Ready to Learn

Definition:
This milestone relates to the early childhood phase of a young person’s life, defined here as under the age of five. It measures the availability and quality of childcare, as well as the level of Kindergarten Readiness we see district-wide.

Rationale:
Early childhood is a time of rapid development in multiple areas of a young person’s life—physical, emotional, cognitive and social growth—so it’s important all children have the supports they need to have a healthy start and enter school ready to learn and succeed.

Milestone 2

Meeting Benchmarks in Reading and Math

Definition:
This milestone relates to the phase of childhood from kindergarten through 8th grade. It includes key growth and proficiency metrics for reading and math content to assess where there are gains to celebrate and opportunities to improve.

Rationale:
All children should be reading at grade level by age 8—the age at which reading to learn becomes essential. Math proficiency, particularly in 8th grade, is also a critical indicator of academic progress before entering high school.

Milestone 3

Graduating from High School Ready for College & Career

Definition:
This milestone is focused on high school completion and college readiness. It includes indicators that showcase whether freshmen are on track to graduate and whether youth will leave high school with early credentials and concrete plans for training, employment, or further education.

Rationale:
All youth should receive a quality high school education and graduate with the skills and tools needed to advance to post-secondary education or training.

Milestone 4

Completing Postsecondary Education or Training

Definition:
This milestone measures how often youth are obtaining two- and four-year degrees, and whether they are engaged in post-secondary education or employment.

Rationale:
Everyone should have the option to attend post-secondary education and receive the education and training needed to obtain a livable-wage paying job.

Milestone 5

Successfully Entering the Workforce

Definition:
This milestone tracks employment rates for youth, aged 16–24, and includes a snapshot of household income and proximity to jobs at the community level.

Rationale:
Anyone who wants a job should be able to obtain employment that allows them to support themselves and their families.

Milestone 6

Keeping Youth on Track & Giving Them Second Chances

Definition:
This milestone includes incidences of violent crime and school disciplinary rates, along with other critical environmental factors that contribute to youths’ ability to thrive.

Rationale:
All should be safe from violent crime, and individuals without supportive environments should receive the education, training, and tools needed for a second chance.

Partners

The Youth Opportunity DashboardTM is powered by A Better Chicago in partnership with The Obama Foundation and the Chicago Public Education Fund.

Thank you to Crown Family Philanthropies, The Joyce Foundation, PwC, and Crankstart for believing in the power of open data to improve the lives of Chicago’s youth.