Presentation IV A Discussion with School Boards: Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisi

1. Presentation IVA Discussion with School Boards:Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisions

2. Presentation IVGoals for Presentations • Present information on the Virginia Graduation Rate • Review the Standards of Accreditation requirements concerning the Graduation and Completion Index and accreditation for 2011-2012 and beyond • Review a comprehensive, systematic process for high school improvement through the Eight Elements of High School Improvement • Present information on the Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide • Promote discussion on policy issues affecting high school improvement efforts

3. Available data housed at the school that are good predictors of whether a student is likely to drop out of school Divisions and schools can use this information to: Track the risk factors associated with dropout behaviors for individual students Implement tiered interventions that support off-track students while they are still in school – before they drop out Look for patterns and identify school climate issues that may contribute to disproportionate dropout rates at a subset of high schools or within subpopulations of students Presentation IV Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide

4. Presentation IV Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide • Students who drop out in Virginia each year have similar characteristics. • Being absent more than 20% of the time • Failing or low grades in English and mathematics • Low Standards of Learning test scores in language arts/reading or mathematics • Multiple behavior referrals and suspensions • Changing schools during the school year • Repeating the current grade • Two or more years over age for grade

5. Presentation IV Retentions in student cohorts

6. Presentation IV Attendance decreases over four years for students who drop out* *Longitudinal perspective of annual dropout data, 2008 Source: Holian, L. (2009). Status of High School Dropouts in the State and Two Southwest Regions. Presented at the VSBA meeting, March 11. REL Appalachia.

7. Presentation IV Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide • Virginia has developed a research-based Early Warning System Tool (EWS) in collaboration with the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia and the National High School Center which is being piloted in four school divisions • Indicators addressing attendance, behavior, and academic performance identify students at risk of dropping out of high school

8. Presentation IV VirginiaEarly Warning System Tool and Guide • An accompanying guide will support school and division efforts to make informed decisions to support high schools and plan overall school improvement • This guide will identify students with multiple risk factors and help in assigning and monitoring interventions to support those students • The Virginia EWS Tool and Guide will be available to high schools in the Commonwealth in fall, 2010

9. Presentation IVMid-Atlantic Equity Center (MAEC)at The George Washington University Center for Equity and Excellence in Education • Customized technical assistance that builds on current school improvement efforts • Dropout prevention based on model from Everyone Graduates Center • Assists schools with in-depth data analysis, developing and implementing early warning systems, and early intervention for students at risk of dropping out • http://maec.ceee.gwu.edu • donna.carr@edvantia.org

10. Presentation IV Virginia Early Warning System Tool and Guide • Our fifth and final presentation will focus on reviewing those policy issues we have identified as priorities • These policies have a great effect on the graduation success of our students • Our discussions will give direction for further data collection and study to plan for the future