2009 Indian Education SummitDrop Out Prevention
Rapid City, SDSeptember 28, 2009
Presenters
Allan Bertram – Assistant Principal – Chamberlain High School Marc Krogstad – Guidance Counselor –
Chamberlain High School Jeff Steckelberg – Study Assist Coord.
– Chamberlain High School
Why???
Main Reasons why students drop out 1) Life Events – Traumatic Events. 2) Fade Outs – Students who have no
educational backing. 3) Push Outs- Attendance or Behavior
Policy with no alternatives 4) Lack of Success – Students who are
unable to stay at grade level
Key Stats Native American Students nationally have
over a 50% drop out rate. (NDPC) Caucasian Students nationally have a 25%
drop out rate. (NDPC) 85-90% of students who are on track
entering 10th grade nationally will graduate from high school. (NDPC)
The key is keeping students on track educationally.
What we do wrong
We focus to much on what we teach and not on what the students have actually learned.
We spend to much time making excuses for why the students cannot learn instead of focusing our energy on how we are going to do the best possible job with what we have.
Questions to ask What is it we expect our students to
learn? How will we know if our students are
learning? How will we respond when student’s
don’t learn? How will we respond when students
have learned? (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, and Many, 2006)
Where we are at CHS Drop Out Situation 2008-2009 = 10 2007-2008 = 11 2006-2007 = 4 2005-2006 = 7 2004-2005 = 5 Total Students in last 5 years = 37 Last two years District has lost $97,860 We had to do something.
Chamberlain High School
294 Students 101 Native American Students 37% of our student population is
Native American.
Process Formed a Drop Out Prevention Committee – August of
2008. Looked at current programs and initiatives that were
supporting At-Risk Students. Looked at current programs and initiatives that were
not supporting At-Risk Students. Professional Development
Attended National Native American Drop Out Prevention Conference – Phoenix, AZ 2009
State Level Drop Out Prevention Workshop – Sioux Falls, SD 2008
152 Ways to Keep Students in School – Schlargel 2008
Webinars, Journals and Publications, etc.
CSD 7-1 Drop Out Prevention Plan
Met One time per month. Looked at new initiatives and
programs that could be installed to help out the drop out situation.
Overall Plan is a guide to what we currently do in our district for At-Risk students.
CSD Drop Out Plan
Where we were at Spring 2003 27% of Native American students
tested were Advanced/Proficient in Math
45% of Native American students tested were Advanced/Proficient in Reading.
Native American subgroup did not make AYP.
Where we are now
Spring 2008 67% of Native American students
tested were Advanced/Proficient in Math
80% of Native American students tested were Advanced/Proficient in Reading.
Native American subgroup made AYP.
Tools for At-Risk Students
Study Assist Program Student on the Rise Program Teacher Mentor Program Advisor/Advisee Saturday School
Study Assist
3 Different Formats 1) Study Assist Class 2) Study Assist Pull-Out Program 3) Study Assist Class Transfer
Program.
Study Assist Class The purpose of this course is to provide an
environment of support for students that struggle to meet the expectations of CHS classes as well as state standards. Students will thus be able to:
Pass classes Remain in school and graduate from CHS Become eligible for athletics and activities
Overview Offered 7 Class Periods per day. 1 Certified Staff Member and 1
Classified Staff Member for each class Period.
12 Student Maximum for each Period Daily Rubric is used for grading
purposes. Half Credit per semester can be
earned toward graduation status.
Study Assist
Separate Classroom in place – Students really make this their place.
Students placed at beginning of year by: Teacher Recommendation Behind in Credits History of poor attendance Grade History
SA Resources
Rubric Teacher Roster Class Roster Overall Information Agenda
What are the evaluation procedures of the program? Student grade point average will be
reviewed Student percent of classes passed will be
reviewed Student grades will be compared to prior
semesters before enrolling in the Study Assist program
Attendance of those students participating in the program will be compared against the previous completed grading period prior to their enrollment
Results
Grade Point Average 2nd Semester 2007 (before Study Assist)
1.15 1st Semester 2008
1.95
Results continued Before Study Assist
64% Classes Passed by Students who were put into study Assist.
2007- 2008 First Semester 87% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students
2007- 2008 Second Semester 88% Classes Passed by Study Assist
Students 2008- 2009 First Semester
92% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students 2008- 2009 Second Semester
91% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students
Results continued Why has the program worked?
Why do the rich get richer? Success builds Confidence Students who lack confidence: will not take risks,
feel hopeless, stop learning If our students go off, they have two
choices- up or down. If they fly it is on the wings of confidence.
Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew. –Guillaume Apollinaire
Study Assist Pull-Out Program Grade Check each Friday. All students failing multiple courses. Pulled out of regular courses on certain
days. Placed in actual Study Assist Classroom.
Study Assist Teacher given info on what classes they are to focus on.
Focus on Getting Worked Caught Up. SA Pull-Out
Study Assist Class Transfer 1st Semester 2008-09 Purpose: To utilize existing class periods, where
students have no opportunity to pass the class, for working on classes that the student has the ability to pass and retain credit.
A total of 8 students were put in Study Assist extra class periods where they had no opportunity of passing with a result of 16 classes being passed out of a possible 22. This transfers into a total of 8 credits being earned.
62 Students were in the pull out program during the 2nd semester of 2008-2009
Class Transfer
Student on the Rise Each Month Teachers nominate students
who they feel have done outstanding work. (In or out of the classroom)
Target students who normally don’t get recognition.
A picture and the write-up about the student is placed on the board.
Info sent to Newspaper & Put on our Website.
Student on the Rise
Teacher Mentor Program Students Identified at the Beginning
of the school year. Grades Social Issues Home life issues Staff choose up to two students they
would like to mentor from the list. Meet one time each week- Focus on grades, choices, and life
happenings.
Advisor/Advisee
Meet Every Friday During the School Year.
Follow same group of students all four years of school
Agenda set by the Drop Out Prevention Committee.
Sent to Staff three days prior to the meeting time.
Advisor/Advisee
Advisement on: Grades, Credits, Academic Goals, Career Choices(Career Cruising)
Advisor-Advisee2.doc
Saturday School
Meet one Saturday per month. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Allows students to buy back one
missed absence from school. Gives students 5 hours of time to
focus on getting caught up on school work.
Saturday School
Minimum of 1 Certified Staff. Volunteer Basis this year. Students are chosen based on
attendance points & grades. Set Criteria, Rules, and Expectations.
Think About
Attempt to be Pro-Active rather than Re-Active.
“Not greeting your students everyday may be one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make” – Annette Breaux
Resources
Learning by doing: A handbook for professional learning communities. Dufour, Dufour, Eaker, Many (2006)
152 Ways to Keep Students in School Fanklin Schlargel (2008)
101 Answers for new teachers and their mentors. Annette Breaux (2003)
Contact Information Allan Bertram – 234-4467
[email protected] http://abertram.wikispaces.com/
Marc Krogstad – 234-4467 [email protected]
Jeff Steckelberg – 234-4467 [email protected]