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Retention is NOT an Intervention: Strategies for Student Success

Retention is NOT an Intervention: Strategies for Student Success. Is Retention the Solution?. Purpose: To increase awareness of the high retention rates of students in grades K-4 in Louisiana Outcome: 75% of students in Louisiana arrive in 4 th grade on time by 2014. Literacy Goals.

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Retention is NOT an Intervention: Strategies for Student Success

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  1. Retention is NOT an Intervention:Strategies for Student Success

  2. Is Retention the Solution? • Purpose: • To increase awareness of the high retention rates of students in grades K-4 in Louisiana • Outcome: • 75% of students in Louisiana arrive in 4th grade on time by 2014

  3. Literacy Goals • Students enter kindergarten ready to learn • Students are literate by the third grade • Students will enter fourth grade on time • Students perform at or above grade level in English Language Arts by eighth grade • Achieve all critical goals, regardless of race or class

  4. Students Will Enter Fourth Grade On Time • Measure: Percentage of studentsearningconsecutive promotion fromkindergartenthroughfourth grade • Current Status (Fall 2010): 72.3 percent of students arrive in fourth grade on time • Ultimate Goal: 90 percent of students arrive in fourth grade on time • Immediate Goal: 75 percent of students arrive in fourth grade on time by 2014

  5. Promotion • Similar to calculating the Graduation Rate • Look at a cohort of kindergarten students • Same students entered “K” at the same time • How many of the “K” students made it to 4th grade on time?

  6. Goal: Kindergarteners arrive in 4th on-time Measure: Student promotion Ultimate Goal 90% arrive on-time Immediate Goal75% arrive on-time by 2014

  7. 12,763 Students did not make it to 4th grade on time in 2010-2011 • Of those: • 5,068 retained in Kindergarten • 4,612 retained in First Grade • 1,950 retained in Second Grade • 1,133 retain in Third Grade

  8. Retention in Louisiana • In Louisiana, 12,763 or 28% of students fail to make it to 4th grade on age-grade level based on 2010 data • We retain students despite overwhelming research and practical evidence that retention fails to lead to improved student outcomes

  9. Louisiana’s Retention Challenge • These students are not subject to state-mandated retention requirements • High-stakes LEAP testing begins at end of 4th grade • Pupil Progression before LEAP governed solely by local district policy (BESE Bulletin 1566, §503 )

  10. Reasons For Retention • Academic Failure • Lack of Basic Skills • Excessive Absences • Emotional Immaturity • Parental Request

  11. Louisiana’s Retention Challenge • In Louisiana, approximately 1 of every 3 public school students (28%) is retained prior to 4th grade • Nationally, about 10% of public school students (and 23% of students in poverty) are retained at ANY grade level

  12. Louisiana’s Over Age Student Challenge • 1 in 3 students enter 4th grade over age in Louisiana • 1 in 3 students enter HS over age in Louisiana • 1 in 3 students fail to earn a HS diploma in Louisiana

  13. The “Downstream” Challenge • National studies have consistently identified grade retention as a leading indicator of HS dropout rates. • Louisiana data demonstrates the same strong correlation (see above chart). • We can accurately predict the graduation outcomes of 80% of the state’s freshman based ONLY on their age & previous school attendance. • Grade retention increases a student’s risk of dropping out between 20% and 50%.

  14. Louisiana K-4 On-Time Promotion Rates and Cohort Graduation Rate

  15. We cannot solve the dropout crisis without addressing the retention problem!

  16. The Bottom Line • “…retention, whether it is called by a special name (transition), occurs for a special reason (immaturity), or takes place in kindergarten rather than later, is still retention and still ineffective.” (quoted from Shepherd, 1989) • Those who continue to retain pupils at grade levels do so despite cumulative evidence showing the potential for negative effects consistently outweighs positive outcomes….(quoted from Holmes & Matthews, 1984)

  17. What Can We Do? • Policy Options • Limit the number of times an elementary student can be retained; allow retention only on the basis of academic performance/attendance • Require multiple documented interventions prior to permitting retention • Require teachers/SBLCs to develop individual intervention plans for all retained students and those at risk of retention • Monitor retention rates by school and grade level, and intervene based on data

  18. What Can We Do? • Other Options • Embed information about research on retention into school-level professional development and information for parents • Provide principals & teachers with guides for early interventions for students at-risk to prevent retention

  19. Alternatives to Retention • Response to Intervention (RTI) (http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/16839.pdf) • Early Intervention • Extended Instructional Time • Effective programs that frequently assess student progress and adapt instructional strategies based on results of these assessments

  20. Alternatives to Retention • Reading and math programs that provide developmentally appropriate, intensive, and direct instruction strategies to promote the reading and math skills of students at risk of being retained • School-based mental health programs that promote the social and emotional adjustment of children. • For example, addressing behavior problems has been found to be effective in facilitating academic performance (Zins, Weissberg, Wang, & Walberg, 2004)

  21. Solutions to Consider from Principals • Ensure early success in K and 1 with targeted early intervention • Collaboration with Head Start Programs and Daycare Centers • Transitional classes with students completing one and a half grades in one year • Literacy and Numeracy Instruction most of the school day with science, social studies, health, etc. embedded • Specific training for PreK and K interventions (Ex. Speech and Language Pathologist Pilot)

  22. Solutions to Consider from Principals • More side by side coaching • Prior to school classes in the summer for students being considered for retention (use data such as DIBELS for determination) • After school interventions for students that require strategic and intensive support • Parent seminars to support student learning • Much, much more!

  23. National Association of SchoolPsychologists • NASP recommends “promotion plus specific interventions designed to address the factors that place students at risk for school failure” • Full list available at http://www.nasponline.org

  24. Jumpstart Summer Camp • Use data to select those students who are candidates for retention • Select your “BEST” reading/math teacher – possibly a coach or interventionist • 8 to 10 students per teacher • Have parents sign assurances for attendance to miss no more than 1 day if child is to be promoted • Bring selected students in for a 4 week “Jumpstart Summer Camp” just prior to school starting

  25. Jumpstart Summer Camp • Target the reading and math skills that are areas of weakness for the individual students for direct systematic teaching • Provide extensive time on task for reading – partner reading, paired reading, reading to other adults, books/tapes • Depending on age of the students, have them read two or more books for pleasure on their independent reading level at home each night – use a reading log for the parent to sign – this involves parent and child • Continuously progress monitor and adapt instruction to achieve student success and prevent retention

  26. How Do I Fund? • MUST Braid Funds • Title I, IDEA, REAP, ELL, Homeless, SIG, local funds, etc. • Major Costs – Teacher and Transportation • Major Payoff – Fewer Retentions and more High School Graduates

  27. Retention How many students did you hold back in K, 1, 2, and 3? • What are your district/school numbers? • http://www.laeducationresults.net/State/ Retention.aspx?RecordID=000 • What is the most common reason for retention in your school or district? • What can be done to prevent retention?

  28. Success has a price tag on it, and the tag reads “Courage, Determination, Discipline, Risk Taking, Perseverance, and Consistency”---doing the right things for the right reasons and not just when we feel like it. - James Meston, Author

  29. Kerry Laster, Ph.D. Chief of Literacy Literacy Goal Office Louisiana Department of Education Email: Kerry.laster@la.gov Phone: 225-342-3647

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