promoting student engagement in school: addressing the silent epidemic of dropouts leadership i...

Promoting Student Engagement in School:

Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Dropouts



Leadership I MeetingDivision of Instruction

October 6, 2009The Ten Oaks Ballroom



David BruzgaDavid Bruzga

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

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)

“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 leadership i...

Documents

school climate

school districtsfocus

high school issue

hcpss students

student disengagement

student groups

student engagement

common patterns