The Nation’s Dropout Crisis

1. The Nation’s Dropout Crisis Indiana’s Tool-box to Help Students Succeed

2. The complexity of today’s world calls for an education system that ensures the vast majority of students successfully complete education beyond high school.

3. Even those who go directly to work after high school will need additional training and education at some point in their working lives.

5. Historically, schools across the nation have reported graduation rates in the 80%-90% range.Actual graduation rates for many schools have been in the 70%, 50%, and in some cases less than 20% range. . .

6. Public High School Graduation Rates in the United States Nation Indiana: 72% Source: Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, 2002

7. Indiana Public High School Enrollment Source: Indiana Department of Education, 2005

8. Snapshot: Graduation RateClass of 2004(senior graduates/freshman enrollment) As computed by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, using data from the Indiana Department of Education

9. Snapshot: Enrollment TrendsGraduating Class of 2004 – Six Indiana High Schools Indiana Department of Education, 2005

10. African American: Latino: White: Asian: Total: 53% 59% 78% 84% 74% Who makes it through high school? Graduation Rate: The Education Trust: EdWatch Online 2004, State Summary Reports, www.edtrust.org

11. The Cost of a High School Dropout Over 25 to 30 years, a dropout student can cost a community as much as $500,000 in public assistance, health care, and incarceration costs. Estimates of the social benefits (social savings from reduced crime only) of a 1% increase in male U.S. high school graduation rates would amount to $1.4 billion. Completing high school raises average annual earnings by approximately $7,216. Additional annual Indiana income tax per graduate is $245 per year or approximately $9,800 over the working lifetime per graduate. USA Today. (2003). “Are Exit Exams Boosting Dropout Rates? Toppo, Greg, Lochner, L. & Moretti, E. (2001). ‘The Effect of Education on Crime: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrests, and Self-Reports’, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper, 8605, U.S. Census Bureau; Bureau of Labor Statistics as presented by Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY.

12. The problem seems huge. • So where do we go next for reform?

13. 2005 Reform - HEA 1794 • Codified a 7 step process for determining a school’s graduation rate. • For each high school the department calculates an estimated grad rate that is determined by: taking the total number of graduates for the reporting year divided by the total number of students enrolled in 9th grade at the school three years before. • For any school where the difference between the estimated graduation rate and the number determined under step seven is more than 5% the department shall request the data used in determining that the missing students are classified under a set of narrowly defined exceptions.

14. Accurate counting is an important first step toward reform. • Helps overcome myths. • Bad apple, Bad egg. • Students are moving to other communities. • Helps in creating sense of urgency. • With bad numbers looming, responsible parties become much more open to reform.

15. Nonpartisan Consensus Building. • Through summer and winter of 2005, we met with students, teachers, teachers union, superintendents, principals, universities, Black Caucus, State Hispanic Commission, Indianapolis Star, other media and legislators to describe the scope of problem. • In fall of 2005, Indianapolis Star ran a week long front page series on the problem.

16. House Enrolled Act 1347, now current law • Dropout AgeClarified that the dropout age in Indiana is 18 years of age. Requires that a student may only receive permission to drop out of high school for financial reasons or health reasons or with permission of a judge. 2. WithdrawalProcessBetween the ages of 16 and 18, students must receive the approval of parents and principal to withdraw from school. Ensures that students must go through a formal withdrawal process involving the student, parent and principal. Holds principals accountable for drop out statistic.

17. HEA 1347 cont. 3. Driver’s License/Work Permit Student lose privileges of driver’s license and work permit if they drop out before they are 18 years old without financial hardship and/or parent and principal approval. 4. Student Career Plan Requires annual review of the student career plan and if a student is not progressing counsel the student about credit recovery options and services available so that that a student may graduate on time.

18. 2006 Legislation: HB 1347 5. Chronic Absenteeism: Includes chronic absenteeism (missing more than 10 unexcused days from school) in the definition of habitual truant and loss of a work permit. 6. Report Card: Provides that on the annual school report card, high schools must report numbers of: • total suspensions • students permitted to dropout by the school • work permits revoked • driver’s permits revoked • students in the School Flex program • freshman not earning enough credits to become sophomores (9th grade bulge).

19. HEA 1794, 2005 legislation. School Flex - Creates an alternate program for students in grades 11 and 12 that serves to engage students in relevant learning by allowing them to : • Enroll in either a college or technical career education program or; • Enroll in employment • Provided that the student: • Attends school for at least three hours per day • Pursues a timely graduation • Not be suspended or expelled • Pursues course and credit requirements for a general diploma • Maintains a 95% attendance rate • The school still counts the student as a full day student.

20. HB 1347 cont. • Fast Track • Authorizes Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes and public colleges and universities to offer a high school completion program for students 19 or older or students with the high school’s permission. • Duel credit: a student must also be enrolled a certificate or associate’s degree program. • To complete the program a student must pass an exam demonstrating the student is ready for college level work. • Credits from high school transfer to college Fast Track program.

21. GED vs. HS Diploma • GED officials say that one in seven HS graduates earn their diploma through GED programs. • 41% of them are 19 and under and 37% are between 20-29 yrs. of age • The military stopped equating the GED with a HS Diploma • GED students score lower on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test • They also drop out of the military at higher rates • Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman and Stephen Cameron found in their study that: • GED holders are “statistically indistinguishable” from high school dropouts. 1:, Gehring, John, The GED: New Tests, New Challenges. Education Week, Jan. 23, 2002, pg1 2.Et al. pg. 3

22. HB 1347 cont. • Gates Foundation Study:Indicates that a high percentage of students who drop out are under-challenged or bored. These students do not see how school is relevant to their future. • Double Up – • Creates a dual credit program that may be offered by Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes and by other public colleges or universities. • Students could earn an associate degree. • A high school must offer a minimum of two dual credit and two Advanced Placement courses so that a student may meet the requirements for Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma. • Free and reduced lunch students would receive a tuition waiver from the university.

23. Guiding Principles. • There is no silver bullet solution. Some problems cannot be solved over night. • But, let’s stop apologizing for failure. • Accurate data makes a difference. Once you over come the myths, it gets much easier to sell reform. • Don’t throw stones; do the leg work necessary for nonpartisan consensus. • Reform should focus on student (rather than institution) driven policies that seek flexible options for a increasing complex world.

24. State Representative Luke Messer 345 West Broadway St. Shelbyville, IN 46176 (317) 517-6818

25. The Nation’s Dropout Crisis Indiana’s Tool-box to Help Students Succeed