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Dropout Prevention Jennifer Dounay Education Commission of the States Presentation to Alaska legislators and educators Anchorage, AK October 9, 2008 Dropouts: A National Perspective • Nearly 1 out of 3 high school students will drop out • 1.2 million/year • Lower graduation rates among male, American Indian, Black, Hispanic youth Education Commission of the States What’s correlated with dropping out? • Financial – More likely to be unemployed – Average annual wages near poverty level • Lost wages and tax revenues • Incarceration – 75% of state prison inmates – 69% of jail inmates – About 59% of federal inmates Education Commission of the States More bad news… • Health – Link between yrs. of school, life expectancy • Public health costs • Welfare • Teen pregnancy Education Commission of the States What Does the Research Say? • • • • • • On-track in grade 9 Sixth grade indicators Student/teacher relationships Parental involvement/expectations School size Math course taking, curriculum, achievement Education Commission of the States What do dropouts say? • Courses boring, no relation to real world • Not motivated/inspired to work hard – 2/3 would have worked harder if more expected of them • • • • No job or career direction in HS Failing in school Parents didn’t know till it was too late “Too much freedom” Sources: The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, Civic Enterprises LLC, 2006 Michigan Education Association survey of young adults, May 2008 Education Commission of the States Dropout Prevention: What States Are Doing • • • • • • • • • • • • Increasing rigor of HS curriculum Student accountability Graduation plans/career “majors” Counseling Remediation Early college high schools Small schools/small learning communities Alternative pathways to standard diploma Middle grades efforts Parental involvement Ninth grade initiatives Dual enrollment Education Commission of the States Increasing rigor of HS curriculum • Supported by research • At least 8 states: college/work ready for all • Too soon to tell for state efforts • Local efforts encouraging (San Jose, CA) • Has to be done right (teacher prep + PD, remediation supports, etc.) Education Commission of the States Student Accountability • 18 as upper compulsory school age: 20 states – Gets at “too much freedom” cited by dropouts – Some research support • No pass no drive: 27 states • No pass no play: 16 states • No known research support, some anecdotal support for “no pass” Education Commission of the States Graduation Plans/Career Majors • 9 states, will be 20 + DC by 2011 • Career majors: 3-4 states, will be 5-6 by 2011 • Add relevance • Relatively new: not aware of research base Education Commission of the States Counseling • Georgia: Graduation Coaches – ID at-risk students, keep on track academically – Now also in middle schools – AL now piloting program • Colorado: School Counselors Corps Grant Program – Priority to schools w/above avg. dropout rates Education Commission of the States Remediation From ECS database: • • • • District must provide/student must attend Individual learning plans for at-risk students Programs must be evaluated: 10 states Supported by research and dropouts themselves Education Commission of the States Early College High Schools • Students can earn HS diploma + 2-year degree in 5 years • Geared toward underserved students • State-level policies: 6 states (CO, MI, NC, PA, TN, TX) • Early returns positive: – – – – Attendance rates avg. over 90% Grade promotion avg. over 90% Better academic performance than home districts High graduation rates • Coming soon: ECS policy brief on model state policy components of ECHS Education Commission of the States Small Schools/Small Learning Communities • More local than state response • Research and dropouts support • NV: HS of 1,200+ students must provide SLCs for grade 9 • CA: Pilot to fund small high schools • FL: School within a school Education Commission of the States Alternative Pathways to Standard Diploma • Credit recovery – Online or computer-based – Targeted to student need • Indiana: School Flex program • Nevada: Earn HS credits while working toward HS promotion • Flexible scheduling • Alternative means of showing competency Education Commission of the States Middle Grades Efforts • Grade 6 research supports • RI, LA: Coaching for students below grade level in reading, math • GA: Graduation coaches in middle schools • NV: Dist. reports must incl. dropout rates for grades 6-8 (separate from HS dropout rates) Education Commission of the States Parental Involvement • Research, dropouts support • HS parents don’t always know what involvement matters • Areas of policy – – – – – – Developing formal policy Reaching out on academic expectations Accommodating parents’ needs Building staff capacity Building parent capacity Developing benchmarks, evaluating impact • ECS policy brief August 2008 Education Commission of the States Ninth Grade Initiatives • NV: 9th grade SLC in large high schools – Keep data on credits earned, attendance, truancy, other atrisk indicators – Offer timely ID of grade 9 student needs, i.e., remediation, counseling – Increase parent involvement in grade 9 – Assign guidance counselors, 1+ licensed admin., adult mentors for 9th graders • LA: Early intervention for students at risk of failing any 9th grade math • RI: Early intervention for those who fail Algebra I or any 9th grade math class Education Commission of the States Dual Enrollment • RI: For dist. w/dropout rate > 15% • OR: “Priority” for districts to inform dropouts of Expanded Options – DOE must report # of dropouts who participate, earn HS diploma • IN: Fast Track to College Education Commission of the States “Dropout Recovery” • Increasing the upper statutory age • Flex. in accelerating learning, demonstrating competency • Flexible credit recovery options • Flexibility in course scheduling, course loads • Clear connections to PS and/or workforce • Communicating options to the public o Source: ECS, “Beyond the GED: State Strategies to Help Former Dropouts Earn a High School Diploma,” August 2008 Education Commission of the States [email protected] 303.299.3689 Education Commission of the States