Boulder Valley School District

1. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity BSVD’s Response to our Dropouts

2. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity • Intentional focus and work to prevent dropouts and increase graduates • Preliminary results indicate: • Higher retention rate • Increased credit retrieval rate • Declining failure rate at pilot schools • Improved attendance rates

3. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity • What is the significant work that led to these results? • Standards-Based Instructional Practices • Early identification and intervention • Real-time credit recovery • Horizons Program (Centaurus HS) • Options Academy (Arapahoe Campus) • Understanding the relevant research

4. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity Johns Hopkins Research • How many students show early warning signs of school disengagement and when does it start? • If they do show these early signs, is it predictive of whether they ultimately drop out or graduate from high school? • Can schools identify and effectively intervene with students showing these early warning signs?

5. Boulder Valley School District John Hopkins Results Excellence & Equity • Just 10 absences can make the difference between being on track to graduation or off-track • Dropouts have higher levels of suspensionsthan others, but this is not as strong a predictor of dropping out as course failure and attendance • This is not just a high school issue

6. Boulder Valley School District John Hopkins Results Excellence & Equity These indicators were predictive as early as 6th grade: • When a sixth grader’s attendance dips below 80%, the student has only a 1 in 6 chance of graduating on time or one year late • Only 20% of 6th graders receiving an out-of-school suspensiongraduated on time or one year late • 6th graders who failed Math or English/Readingrarely graduated at all

7. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity What does this mean in Colorado? This research has been replicated in other urban districts like Chicago and also in five Colorado school districts (DPS, Jeffco, Aurora, Adams 12 & Pueblo). THE RESULTS ARE THE SAME

8. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity BVSD Dropout Retrieval, Prevention and Intervention Partnerships and Colorado Graduates Initiative • Colorado Youth for a Change…………...cycinfo.org • National Center for School Engagement, an Initiative of the Partnership for Families and Children…..……………………..schoolengagement.org • Colorado Children’s Campaign… .coloradokids.org

9. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Partnerships Excellence & Equity Colorado Youth for a Change • Dropout Outreach & Recovery • Intervention Program • New Program & School Development

10. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Partnerships Excellence & Equity National Center for School Engagement • School Policy & Practice Review • Design & Implement Early Warning System • Resource Mapping • Professional Development

11. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Partnerships Excellence & Equity Colorado Children’s Campaign • Indentifying policy impediments to child success, building public and legislative support for the most effective solutions and effectively advocating for policies to improve the lives of the kids in Colorado

12. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity BVSD Dropout Intervention BVSD Graduates Initiative

13. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity Colorado Youth for a Change • Dropout Outreach & Recovery • Identified 538 dropouts (2006-2009) • 48 had graduated or earned GED • 39 re-enrolled in BVSD • 134 enrolled in another district • 54 were too old to return • 188 not found/moved • Remainder declined support

14. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity Colorado Youth for a Change • Dropout Outreach & Recovery • Of the 39 students re-enrolled: • 3 graduated • 5 received a GED • 10 continuing and 11 re-enrolled this fall • 10 dropped with no further contact

15. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity Colorado Youth for a Change • Ninth and Tenth Grade Intervention at Centaurus High School • Even one course failure in the 9th grade drastically reduces the chance of graduating on time

16. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity CHS 9th-10th Intervention Program # Classes Passed or Failed Fall 2009 Semester

17. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity CHS 9th-10th Intervention Program # Classes Passed or Failed Spring 2010 Semester

18. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity Colorado Youth for a Change • Next Steps • Intervene with 11th and 12th graders who are overage and under credit • Support new program and school design • Resources permitting, begin work at Boulder High School

19. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity National Center for School Engagement • Lafayette Schools • Policy and Practice Review to identify barriers and follow with recommendations and action plans • Assist with facilitation and professional development to change practices

20. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity National Center for School Engagement • Next Steps • Complete Resource Mapping and assist with integration of internal and external resources • Design and Implement Early Warning System K-12 • Assist with identification and implementation of interventions to address students identified through the Early Warning System K-12

21. Boulder Valley School District Excellence & Equity Dropout rate is a measurement typically considered by high schools, but it occurs over multiple years.

22. Boulder Valley School District BVSD Graduates Initiative Excellence & Equity BVSD Graduates Initiativeis Gap-Closing Work • Grounded in extensive research • Multi-pronged approach to early intervention and prevention • Real time dropout and credit recovery • Every student will have a plan for graduation and beyond (ICAP) • It is possible for every student to graduate!