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Promoting Student Engagement in School: Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts Leadership I Meeting Division of Instruction October 6, 2009 The Ten Oaks Ballroom
Promoting Student Engagement in School:
Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts
Promoting Student Engagement in School:
Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts
Leadership I MeetingDivision of Instruction
October 6, 2009The Ten Oaks Ballroom
Leadership I MeetingDivision of Instruction
October 6, 2009The Ten Oaks Ballroom
David BruzgaDavid Bruzga
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
Congratulations Hammond Middle
School…National Blue Ribbon Award Winner
Congratulations Hammond Middle
School…National Blue Ribbon Award Winner
All HCPSS High SchoolsAll HCPSS High Schools
MADE AYPMADE AYP
The two sides of the continuum remind me of Jim Collins’s
“window-mirror” analogy--leaders who peer out the window see “others” as being problematic,
whereas leaders who look into the mirror peer into themselves for
answers in how to work with those who are culturally different from
themselves.”Dana Rivers, Los Angeles Unified
School District
The two sides of the continuum remind me of Jim Collins’s
“window-mirror” analogy--leaders who peer out the window see “others” as being problematic,
whereas leaders who look into the mirror peer into themselves for
answers in how to work with those who are culturally different from
themselves.”Dana Rivers, Los Angeles Unified
School District
High Performing School Districts…
High Performing School Districts…
Focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t.
-Kati Haycock
Focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t.
-Kati Haycock
Systemic ExpectationsSystemic Expectations
Knowing our studentsKnowing what interventions and supports are in place to ensure their success
Having a process for continuously monitoring their progress
Developing a relationship with students and their families
Knowing our studentsKnowing what interventions and supports are in place to ensure their success
Having a process for continuously monitoring their progress
Developing a relationship with students and their families
Executive SummaryExecutive SummaryImprove Teaching and Curricula to Make School more Relevant and Engaging and Enhance The Connection Between School and WorkImprove Instruction, and Access to Supports, for Struggling StudentsBuild a School Climate that Fosters AcademicsEnsure That Students Have a Strong Relationship With At Least One Adult in the SchoolImprove the Communication Between Parents And Schools
Improve Teaching and Curricula to Make School more Relevant and Engaging and Enhance The Connection Between School and WorkImprove Instruction, and Access to Supports, for Struggling StudentsBuild a School Climate that Fosters AcademicsEnsure That Students Have a Strong Relationship With At Least One Adult in the SchoolImprove the Communication Between Parents And Schools
OutcomesOutcomes
Increase an awareness of the risk factors that cause students to drop out
Analyze the student groups that are dropping out
Dialogue about supports that would enhance our efforts to engage students
Increase an awareness of the risk factors that cause students to drop out
Analyze the student groups that are dropping out
Dialogue about supports that would enhance our efforts to engage students
Lisa BoarmanLisa Boarman
CoordinatorSchool Counseling and
Related Services
CoordinatorSchool Counseling and
Related Services
What is the “profile” of a dropout ?
What is the “profile” of a dropout ?
Almost 90% of the fastest growing and highest paying jobs require some post-secondary education.
Almost 90% of the fastest growing and highest paying jobs require some post-secondary education.
Source: Alliance for Excellent Education
38%
42%
43%
47%
Had too much freedom and not enough rules in my
life.
Spent too much time with people who weren’t
interested in school.
Missed too many days and could not catch up.
Classes were not interesting.
Top Five Reasons for Dropping Out
Was failing in school.
35%Source: The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts; Bridgeland, Dilulio, Morison; 2006.
Warning Signs for Dropouts
Failing MathBehavior
Issues
Attendance less than
80%
Failing English
Sixth Graders
Source: Preventing Student Disengagement and Keeping Students on the Graduation Path in Urban Middle-Grades Schools: Early Identification and Effective Interventions (Balfanz,Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
Retention
There is no single pathway that every dropout follows BUT there are common patterns and common crisis spots.
There is no single pathway that every dropout follows BUT there are common patterns and common crisis spots.
The transitions to middle school and high school is a critically important time.
The transitions to middle school and high school is a critically important time.
Drop out prevention is not a high school issue -- it’s a K- 12 issue.
Drop out prevention is not a high school issue -- it’s a K- 12 issue.
Pamela Blackwell Director
Student Services
Pamela Blackwell Director
Student Services
Craig CummingsCoordinator
Alternative Education
Craig CummingsCoordinator
Alternative Education
Once your school district has identified indicators that have an especially strong link to students dropping out, collecting and analyzing individual
student-level data on these indicators should be
a routine and ongoing process.
Once your school district has identified indicators that have an especially strong link to students dropping out, collecting and analyzing individual
student-level data on these indicators should be
a routine and ongoing process.
9th Grade Dropout Activity
9th Grade Dropout Activity
Student Withdrawals Grade 9
Student Withdrawals Grade 9
What patterns do you see in the data?
What surprises you?What additional information would be helpful to know?
How could you use this information?
What patterns do you see in the data?
What surprises you?What additional information would be helpful to know?
How could you use this information?
Why HCPSS Students Were Withdrawn?
Why HCPSS Students Were Withdrawn?
Lack of Interest (W33)Whereabouts Unknown (W50)Lack of Academic Success
(W31)
Lack of Interest (W33)Whereabouts Unknown (W50)Lack of Academic Success
(W31)
Source: HCPSS Exit Interviews
Warning Signs for Dropouts in HCPSS
ScoringBasic in Math
Students Who
ReceiveFARMS
Attendance less than
90%
Scoring Basic in
Reading
Ninth Graders
Source: HCPSS Exit Interviews
RetentionSpecifically9th Grade
MSDE Standard for Dropouts
MSDE Standard for Dropouts
100% of all high schools will report 3% or less of all students in all student groups dropping out of school.
100% of all high schools will report 3% or less of all students in all student groups dropping out of school.
Maryland Report Card Data
Maryland Report Card Data HCPSS Dropouts by student groups
included:92 White students (.92%) 95 Female students (1.13%) 62 FARMS students (3.08%)144 Male students (1.63%)90 African American students (2.31%)32 Special Education students (2.36%)37 Hispanic students (4.03%)18 LEP students (4.80%)20 Asian Pacific Islander (.63%)
HCPSS Dropouts by student groups included:92 White students (.92%) 95 Female students (1.13%) 62 FARMS students (3.08%)144 Male students (1.63%)90 African American students (2.31%)32 Special Education students (2.36%)37 Hispanic students (4.03%)18 LEP students (4.80%)20 Asian Pacific Islander (.63%)
HCPSS Standard for Dropouts
HCPSS Standard for Dropouts
100% of high schools will have a maximum 1.25% dropout rate
254 Educational (Exit) Interviews Groups Not Meeting Standard
FARMS Males African Americans Special Education Hispanic LEP
100% of high schools will have a maximum 1.25% dropout rate
254 Educational (Exit) Interviews Groups Not Meeting Standard
FARMS Males African Americans Special Education Hispanic LEP
How Should We Use the Data?
How Should We Use the Data?
Analyze patternsDiscuss, plan and take actionAssess effectiveness of supports
Analyze patternsDiscuss, plan and take actionAssess effectiveness of supports
BREAKBREAK
David BruzgaDavid Bruzga
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
HCPSS DropoutsHCPSS DropoutsWhat do we know about the students on the list?What kind of activities really engage these students in instruction?How do we increase the capacity of our teachers to engage the full range of students in our instructional program?What interventions are in place to ensure their success?What process do we have in place to continuously monitor their progress and articulate that with each other?How are we working to develop a relationship with these students and their families? How are we supporting students and families as they transition between levels?
What do we know about the students on the list?What kind of activities really engage these students in instruction?How do we increase the capacity of our teachers to engage the full range of students in our instructional program?What interventions are in place to ensure their success?What process do we have in place to continuously monitor their progress and articulate that with each other?How are we working to develop a relationship with these students and their families? How are we supporting students and families as they transition between levels?
Craig CummingsCraig Cummings
CoordinatorAlternative Education
CoordinatorAlternative Education
Why Discuss Student Engagement Now?
Why Discuss Student Engagement Now?
June 2009, MSDE Summit to Address the Issue of Dropouts
All LEAs Charged with Developing a Dropout Prevention Plan
June 2009 HCPSS Planning Team formed
June 2009, MSDE Summit to Address the Issue of Dropouts
All LEAs Charged with Developing a Dropout Prevention Plan
June 2009 HCPSS Planning Team formed
Why Discuss Student Engagement Now, cont.?
Why Discuss Student Engagement Now, cont.?
HCPSS Planning Team School administrators (ES, MS, HS) Alternative Education, Student Services, ESOL,
Special Education, Family and Community Services, School Administration and SAPE
School Counselors, PPWs Community Agency Personnel-Juvenile
Services, Social Services, NAMI HCEA Howard Community College Student(s)
HCPSS Planning Team School administrators (ES, MS, HS) Alternative Education, Student Services, ESOL,
Special Education, Family and Community Services, School Administration and SAPE
School Counselors, PPWs Community Agency Personnel-Juvenile
Services, Social Services, NAMI HCEA Howard Community College Student(s)
David BruzgaDavid Bruzga
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
Administrative DirectorSecondary Schools
“High Performing School Districts Set Their Goals
High.”
“High Performing School Districts Set Their Goals
High.”
Choose Civility WeekOctober 5th-9th
Choose Civility WeekOctober 5th-9th
Promoting Student Engagement in School:
Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts
Promoting Student Engagement in School:
Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts
Leadership I MeetingDivision of Instruction
October 6, 2009The Ten Oaks Ballroom
Leadership I MeetingDivision of Instruction
October 6, 2009The Ten Oaks Ballroom
