update on the office of dropout prevention: dropout rates; school attendance; and truancy issues...
TRANSCRIPT
Update on the Office of Dropout Prevention: Dropout
Rates; School Attendance; and Truancy Issues
Sheril R. Smith, Ph.D., DirectorOffice of Dropout Prevention, Mississippi
Department of Education
Dropout & Graduation Rates
New Calculation Methodology• 4-year cohort method adopted by the NGA• Uses first-time 9th graders only (no repeaters)• Follows students for 4 years
This method will be adopted by all states in the coming years
Dropout / Graduation Data by Gender & RaceGraduating Class of 2007 - State
13.6 11.5
23.515.4 15.9
76.982.8
59.7
74.6 73.8
0
20
40
60
80
100
Dropout Graduation
Black Females White Females Black Males White Males State
Source: Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Research and Statistics
1.8 0.61.7
2.2 1.7
represents percentage point change over previous cohort
2.4 0.7 5.0 3.0
3.0
The Importance of CLEAN Data for Accurate Dropout / Graduation Rates
We are sure our data process is reliable, we now have to ensure the data is valid.• The actual codes for transfers and dropouts do matter• There MUST be supporting documentation for any
transfers• If there is no documentation, the student will be counted
as a dropout• All releases / transfers/ enrollment reports MUST be
verified before signing off on it These data cleaning procedures will be in effect
beginning in the 2008-2009 school year
Number of Transfers by Grade: 2006-2007
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Grade
Number
T4 Non-PublicT5 Out of StateT8 Homeschool
Sum of Transfers (T4, T5, T8) by Grade2006-2007
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Grade
Number
Transfers to Non-Public, Out of State,and Homeschool
Partnering with School Attendance Officers
Legally, it is the LEA’s responsibility to provide information to the SAO’s (State Auditor’s Office)
Summer Activity Clean-Up Process• SAO’s are responsible for verifying the list of no-
shows Transfer Verification – need written documentation
Dropout Codes• Please work with SAO’s to ensure accuracy of codes (20
codes)• Use Code 19 – Reason Unknown – if you are not sure
Partnering with School Attendance Officers (cont’d)
Suspensions & Expulsions• Any out-of-school suspensions need to be entered
into MSIS• After 5 unexcused absences, SAO’s should be
notified within 2 days SAO data should match MSIS data – this past
year, only 3 school districts had matched data
Truancy Rates – Policy 3104 New policy adopted last October
• Definitions for: Cumulative Enrollment; Excused & Unlawful Absences; Truancy & Habitual Truancy; School Day
Highlights• For the purpose of calculating truancy rates, out of school
suspensions shall not be considered unlawful absences. Out of school suspension days shall not be factored into truancy rate calculations.
• Students that satisfy the school day attendance requirements shall not be considered absent and/or calculated in the truancy rate, including students enrolled in alternative education programs, GED Options programs, and students detained in juvenile detention centers.
• Calculations for: truancy rate; habitual truancy rate; suspension rate; expulsion rate.
General Education Development (GED) Testing
GED Options Program• MDE maintains a contract with the American Council on
Education (ACE)• GED Options program is offered through the high school –
student remains enrolled in high school• If the student attends a GED program through a
community-based organization (CBO), he/she is counted as a dropout
• (MDE is working with the Board of Community & Junior Colleges on a waiver process to count CBO students as completers
• Please ensure accuracy of T7 codes: transfer to CBO program Enrollment in GED Options
Questions???
www.mde.k12.ms.us/dropout_prevention
www.onthebus.ms
Sheril R. Smith, Ph.D., DirectorOffice of Dropout Prevention