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Dropout Prevention in the Middle Grades
Jennifer DounayEducation Commission of the States
37th Annual New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc. Caucus Weekend
Albany, NYFebruary 16, 2008
Education Commission of the States
About ECS
• 50-state education compact est’d 1965• Nonpartisan, nonprofit• State fees, grants, corporate giving• Serves all state-level education policymakers and their staffs:
•Governors•Legislators•State board members•State superintendents•SHEEOs and higher education boards
Education Commission of the States
About the study
• “Preventing Student Disengagement in Middle Schools” (Johns Hopkins, Philadelphia Ed. Fund, 2007)
• Philadelphia – high-poverty schools
• How early in MG can students be ID’d?
• Can students be ID’d reliably/easily by – Teachers?– Administrators?
Education Commission of the States
Four grade 6 indicators• ID’d 60% of students who dropped out
– Failing English– Failing math– Attendance = 80% or less– Final behavior marks (or suspension)
• Behavior + failing = increased odds of DO
• 52% = 0, 29% = 1, 11% = 2, 5% = 3
Education Commission of the States
Motivation/achievement
• Diff. factors affect diff. student outcomes
• “Academic press” ► student behavior
• Utility ► effort
• Parent involvement ► effort/attendance– PI = Parents feel welcome/help w/ homework
• Intrinsic interest ► effort/attendance
Education Commission of the States
What’s the answer?
• Comprehensive vs. piecemeal approach– Research-based curriculum– Intensive teacher PD and support (in class)– Focused student help in math, reading– Org. changes improve school community
• Combo of small LC, teacher teams, looping
Education Commission of the States
Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz, Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
Focus of intervention
Type of intervention Attendance Behavior Course Failures
Tier I:
Schoolwide (all students)
Every absence brings a response
Create culture that says attending every day matters
Positive social incentives for good attendance
Data tracking at teacher team level
Teach, model, expect good behavior
Positive social incentives, recognition for good behavior
Advisory
Research based instructional programs
In-classroom implementation support to enable active and engaging pedagogies
Education Commission of the States
Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz, Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
Focus of intervention
Type of intervention
Attendance Behavior Course Failures
Tier II:
Targeted
(15-20% of students)
2 or more unexcused absences/month brings brief daily check by an adult
Attendance team investigates and problem solves, why isn’t student attending (teacher, counselor, administrator, parent)
2 or more referrals brings involvement of behavior team
Simple behavior checklist brought from class to class checked each day by an adult
Mentor assigned
Elective replacement extra help courses – tightly linked to core curriculum, preview upcoming lessons, fill in knowledge gaps
Targeted reduced class size for students whose failure is rooted in social/emotional issues
Education Commission of the States
Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz, Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
Focus of intervention
Type of intervention
Attendance Behavior Course Failures
Intensive (5-10% of students)
Sustained one-on-one attention and problem solving
Bring in appropriate social service or community supports
In-depth behavioral assessment – why is student misbehaving
Behavior contracts with family involvement
Bring in appropriate social service or community supports
One-on-one tutoring
Education Commission of the States
“On-demand, classroom-level data program”(Educational Leadership, Oct. 2007)
• Teachers track individual students daily– Quickly ID those needing more intensive
help– ID students who have responded to
intensive help– Very successful so far
• Philly will make available thru districtwide data management system
Education Commission of the States
Policy options
• Pilot comprehensive model– Competitive grant– ID districts in advance
• Incorporate info re: MG early warning indicators in teacher, admin. prep./PD
