Presentation IV A Discussion with School Boards: Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisions

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Presentation IVA Discussion with School
BoardsRaising the Graduation Rate, High School
Improvement, and Policy Decisions
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Presentation IVGoals for Presentations

• Present information on the Virginia Graduation
  Rate
• Review the Standards of Accreditation
  requirements concerning the Graduation and
  Completion Index and accreditation for 2011-2012
  and beyond
• Review a comprehensive, systematic process for
  high school improvement through the Eight
  Elements of High School Improvement
• Present information on the Virginia Early Warning
  System Tool and Guide
• Promote discussion on policy issues affecting
  high school improvement efforts

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Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide
Presentation IV

• Available data housed at the school that are good
  predictors of whether a student is likely to drop
  out of school
• Divisions and schools can use this information
  to
• Track the risk factors associated with dropout
  behaviors for individual students
• Implement tiered interventions that support
  off-track students while they are still in school
  before they drop out
• Look for patterns and identify school climate
  issues that may contribute to disproportionate
  dropout rates at a subset of high schools or
  within subpopulations of students

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Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide
Presentation IV

• Students who drop out in Virginia each year have
  similar characteristics.
• Being absent more than 20 of the time
• Failing or low grades in English and mathematics
• Low Standards of Learning test scores in language
  arts/reading or mathematics
• Multiple behavior referrals and suspensions
• Changing schools during the school year
• Repeating the current grade
• Two or more years over age for grade

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Presentation IV
Retentions in student cohorts
Retention/promotion Dropouts Non-dropouts
Retained in high school Retained in high school Retained in high school
2009 62 12
2008 59 12
Retained in ninth grade Retained in ninth grade Retained in ninth grade
2009 36 9
2008 38 6
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Presentation IV
Attendance decreases over four years for students
who drop out
STATEWIDE STATEWIDE STATEWIDE
Average Days Absent for all students enrolled in 2007-2008 Average Days Absent for all students enrolled in 2007-2008 Average Days Absent for all students enrolled in 2007-2008
Non-dropout Dropout
2004-2005 8 19
2005-2006 8 22
2006-2007 9 28
2007-2008 10 30
Longitudinal perspective of annual dropout data,
2008 Source Holian, L. (2009). Status of High
School Dropouts in the State and Two Southwest
Regions. Presented at the VSBA meeting, March
11. REL Appalachia.
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Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide
Presentation IV

• Virginia has developed a research-based Early
  Warning System Tool (EWS) in collaboration with
  the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at
  Edvantia and the National High School Center
  which is being piloted in four school divisions
• Indicators addressing attendance, behavior, and
  academic performance identify students at risk of
  dropping out of high school

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Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide
Presentation IV

• An accompanying guide will support school and
  division efforts to make informed decisions to
  support high schools and plan overall school
  improvement
• This guide will identify students with multiple
  risk factors and help in assigning and monitoring
  interventions to support those students
• The Virginia EWS Tool and Guide will be available
  to high schools in the Commonwealth in fall, 2010

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Presentation IVMid-Atlantic Equity Center
(MAEC)at The George Washington University Center
for Equity and Excellence in Education

• Customized technical assistance that builds on
  current school improvement efforts
• Dropout prevention based on model from Everyone
  Graduates Center
• Assists schools with in-depth data analysis,
  developing and implementing early warning
  systems, and early intervention for students at
  risk of dropping out
• http//maec.ceee.gwu.edu
• donna.carr_at_edvantia.org

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Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide
Presentation IV

• Our fifth and final presentation will focus on
  reviewing those policy issues we have identified
  as priorities
• These policies have a great effect on the
  graduation success of our students
• Our discussions will give direction for further
  data collection and study to plan for the future