SOLVING THE DROPOUT PUZZLE

1
SOLVING THE DROPOUT PUZZLE

• Prevention, Detection, Intervention, Recovery

2
THE DROPOUT PROBLEM Social Dynamite

• A GROWING PRISON POPULATION
• 75 percent of state prison inmates and 59
  percent of federal inmates are high-school
  dropouts.
• INCREASING WELFARE COSTS
• A LIMITED LABOR SUPPLY FOR AN ECONOMY WITH AN
  INCREASING APPETITE FOR EDUCATED WORKERS

3
THE COST OF DROPPING OUT

• For society, the annual cost of providing for
  youth who fail to complete high school and their
  families is 76 billion
• or approximately 800 for each taxpayer in
  states and localities across the country

4
DROPOUT DATA

• About 14,000 students drop out of Louisiana
  public schools each year
• Nationally, 9th grade retention is the single
  most powerful indicator of dropouts
• A majority of Louisiana students that fail 9th
  grade English do not graduate
• Louisiana dropouts span the spectrum of academic
  achievement
• 45 of young adult dropouts are unemployed

5
THE STACKED DECK Early Dropout Predictors

• Socioeconomic Factors
• Low income
• Limited education of parent(s)
• Adult(s) in household in non-managerial or
• non-professional jobs
• Single parent household
• Early Life Experiences
• Low birth weight
• Poor nutrition
• Not read to by adults
• Inappropriate TV viewing habits

SOURCE One-third of a Nation Rising Dropout
Rates and Declining Opportunities, ETS, February
2006
6
WHY STUDENTS DROPOUTTop 5 Reasons
Classes not interesting 47
Missed too many days to catch-up 43
Friends not interested in school 42
Too much freedom not enough rules 38
Failing in school 35
Source The Silent Epidemic, Civic Enterprises,
2006
7
DROPOUT PREVENTIONTHE 4E CULTURE

• Efficacy
• Expectations
• Equity
• Engagement

• Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006

8
MONITORINGTHE 4E CULTURE

• 1. TEACHER QUALITY
• Teacher education
• Teacher experience
• Teacher mobility
• Teacher assignment/placement

Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
9
MONITORINGTHE 4E CULTURE

• 2. PROGRAM PARTCIPATION
• (OVERASSIGNMENT)
• Special Education
• Gifted/Talented
• Bilingual Education
• Student Discipline

Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
10
MONITORINGTHE 4E CULTURE

• 3. ACHIEVEMENT
• State achievement test results
• Dropout rates
• Graduation rates
• ACT/AP results

Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
11
EARLY DETECTION

• Identify high yield early indicators of dropout
  risk
• Develop an Early Warning System
• Implement program of appropriate interventions

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EARLY DROPOUT INDICATORS

• THE 4 Ps

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EARLY DROPOUT INDICATORSTHE 4 Ps

• Failing to
• Daily Attendance
• Class Attendance
• Tardiness
• Mobility or enrollment tenure

Participate
Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
14
EARLY DROPOUT INDICATORSTHE 4 Ps
Perform

• Failing to
• Assignment/homework completion
• Tests and assessments
• Class participation
• Extracurricular activities/Athletics
• Counseling interventions
• Discipline behavioral management
• Volunteer activities

Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
15
EARLY DROPOUT INDICATORSTHE 4 Ps

• Failing to
• Time management
• Schedule management
• Course-taking
• Diploma path
• Career path

Plan
Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
16
EARLY DROPOUT INDICATORSTHE 4 Ps

• Failing to
• Course completion
• Grade transitions
• Grade promotions
• Diploma path completion
• College readiness
• Work readiness

Persist
Source From Failure to Success, HSTW, SREB, 2006
17
DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGIES
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DROPOUT PREVENTIONSTRATEGIES

• EARLY INTERVENTIONS
• Family Involvement
• Early Childhood Education
• Reading/Writing Programs
• Source National Center for Dropout Prevention

19
DROPOUT PREVENTIONSTRATEGIES

• BASIC CORE STRATEGIES
• Mentoring/Tutoring
• Service Learning
• Alternative Schooling
• Out-of-School Experiences
• Source National Center for Dropout Prevention

20
DROPOUT PREVENTIONSTRATEGIES

• MAKING THE MOST OF
• INSTRUCTION
• Professional Development
• Learning Styles/
• Multiple Intelligences
• Instructional Technologies
• Individualized Instruction
• Source National Center for Dropout Prevention

21
DROPOUT PREVENTIONSTRATEGIES

• USING THE WIDER COMMUNITY
• Community Collaboration
• Career Education/
• Workforce Relations
• Violence Prevention/
• Conflict Resolution
• Source National Center for Dropout Prevention

22
DROPOUT RECOVERYA Missed Opportunity

• In hindsight, dropouts are almost universally
  remorseful for having left school.
• About ¾ of dropouts indicate they would have
  remained in school if they could relive the
  experience.
• 74 of dropouts would re-enter school if they
  could attend in alternative settings with
  age-level peers.

SOURCE The Silent Epidemic, Civic Enterprises,
March 2006
23
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL DROPOUT RECOVERY
PROGRAMS

• Open entry and exit
• Flexible scheduling and year-round learning
• Self-paced learning with alternatives to
  seat-time requirements
• Teachers as coaches and mentors
• Real-world, career-oriented curricula
• Opportunities for employment
• Clear codes of conduct
• Extensive support services, particularly those
  related to health
• A portfolio of recovery options

SOURCE NGA Center for Best Practices, 2006