Office of Dropout Prevention and Postsecondary Readiness

April 10, 2013

Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement

Cost of Dropping Out

• The average dropout earns $17,299 per year, compared to $26,933 for a high school graduate and $52,671 for someone with a bachelor’s degree.

• The incidence of institutionalization among

young high school dropouts was 6.3 times higher than that of young high school graduate.

Definitions

The Colorado dropout rate is an annual rate, reflecting the percentage of all students enrolled in grades 7-12 that leave school during a single school year without subsequently attending another school or educational program. A dropout is a "person who leaves school for any reason, except death, before completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent, and who does not transfer to another public or private school or enroll in an approved home study program."

This is the state’s 6th consecutive year of reducing the dropout rate.

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11 2011-12

State Total 4.5% 4.4% 3.8% 3.6% 3.1% 3.0% 2.9%

Race/Ethnicity American Indian or Alaskan Native 6.8% 7.1% 6.4% 6.8% 5.3% 6.5% 5.4%

Asian 3.1% 2.6% 2.3% 2.2% 1.6% 1.7% 1.6%

Black or African American 6.6% 5.8% 5.5% 5.0% 4.6% 4.4% 4.4%

Hispanic or Latino 8.2% 8.0% 6.6% 6.2% 5.4% 4.9% 4.7%

White 2.8% 2.8% 2.4% 2.3% 2.0% 2.0% 1.9%

Native Hawaiian/Pac. Isle n/r n/r n/r n/r n/r 2.9% 3.8%

Two or More Races n/r n/r n/r n/r n/r 1.7% 1.7%

2011-2012 Dropout Rates by Race/Ethnicity

This interactive map is available on the CDE website.

Rates by District

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• Students

categorized as homeless experienced an increase in dropout rates from 2011 to 2012.

• The gap

between Limited English Proficiency students and the state average is beginning to close.

4.5 4.4

3.8 3.6

3.1 3 2.9

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

Drop

out R

ate

(%)

School Year

State Totals (All Students) Students With Disabilities Limited English Proficient

Economically Disadvantaged Migrant Title 1

Homeless Gifted and Talented

Dropout Rate by Instructional Program Type

Colorado Graduates

COLORADO GRADUATION TRENDS

45,879 3 OUT OF 4 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATE WITHIN 4 YEARS OR LESS

NUMBER OF ON-TIME GRADUATES

Steady Improvements in Graduation Rates

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Starting to Close the Graduation Gap

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72.4% 73.9% 75.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Class of 2010 Class of 2011 Class of 2012

State Totals

American Indian

Asian

Black

Hispanic

White

More minority students are graduating on time each year, and the graduation rate for these students increased at, or faster than, the rate for their white

peers in 2012. However, the gap is still approximately 15-25 percentage points.

4-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity

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Supporting students enrolled beyond their fourth year of high school yields significant results.

Federal law specifically allows extra time for English learners and special education students.

Homeless and highly mobile students, often graduate with one to two additional years.

Giving Students More Time

72.4% 77.1% 78.5%

4 Year 5 Year 6 Year

CLASS OF 2010

6.1%

6.1% EQUATES TO

3,445 MORE STUDENTS FINISHING THEIR K-12 EDUCATION

Safety and Discipline

• Along with attendance issues, behavioral incidents that lead to discipline actions and/or course failure are one of the strongest predictors of dropping out.

• Two major policy changes have occurred

that are prompting districts and schools to review and update discipline policies.

End of Zero Tolerance

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• HB12-1345 passed in 2012 with an amendment originating from the work of the interim legislative committee studying school discipline.

• The most significant elements of the bill include: • Elimination of mandatory expulsions for drugs, weapons,

assaults, and robbery • Change in the grounds for suspension and expulsions from

“shall” be grounds to “may” be grounds • Guidance on factors to consider in determining disciplinary

actions, • Promotion of alternatives to discipline to decrease out-of-

school suspensions and expulsions • Required training for law enforcement officers, and reporting

requirements regarding law enforcement officer and district attorney actions for school-based incidents.

Marijuana Legalization

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The November 2012 passage of Amendment 64 has triggered interest in Colorado’s school suspensions and expulsions due to drug violations. Suspensions and expulsions for use possession or sale of drugs or controlled substances declined by 138 in 2011-2012. However, this represents a 41% increase since the 2008-2009 school year. Currently in Colorado, drugs are not reported by type. It is recommended that the reporting be disaggregated to track marijuana separately from controlled substances, as is currently done for alcohol and tobacco.

Action for Controlled Substance Offense SCHOOL-YEAR

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

SUSPENSIONS (Classroom + In-School + Out of School)

3,287 3,212 3,202 4,212 4,650 4,561

EXPULSIONS 546 567 534 753 767 718

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Despite encouraging trends, more needs to be done to ensure districts, charters, and BOCES have strategies for addressing at-risk students and re-engaging dropouts.

Over the last three years, only 1 out of 4 districts showed

consistent gains in their on-time graduation rate

1 in 5 high school students attends a school district

with an ON-TIME GRADUATION RATE of 60%

or below

Systemic Renewal – Whole school strategies, removes barriers to improvement and provide structures for innovation (Learning Supports, Transition/Orientation Programs, Outreach to Out-of-School Youth)

School-community collaboration/Family Partnering Safe Learning Environments/Positive School Climate

Effective School Engagement Strategies

School Engagement is the foundation of academic success and a positive school

climate…

Reflects the physical environment and attitudes, expectations and values of the school community.

About 78 percent of Boulder Valley's Latino students graduated high school on time in 2012, compared to about 68 percent in 2011. Deirdre Pilch, Boulder Valley assistant superintendent, said the improvement is the result of systemic change. "What we are seeing is the impact of multiple years of efforts that resulted in a far greater number of students being prepared for on-time graduation," she said. "It's amazing what the schools have done and what the families have done."

CDE Response

Program and Strategies

Essential Elements Methods & Tactics

Data Analysis Early Warning Systems Response to Intervention (RtI) District and School Policy and Practices Review Assess and Enhance School Climate Educator & Administrator Assessment Level of Family Partnering and Community Engagement

Rigorous and relevant instruction Regular school attendance Positive relationships with teachers and counselors Positive Behavior

Practices and Policy Review

Student Engagement

Data Driven

Best Practices and Policies

Resources and Grants 1. Colorado Graduation

Pathways (HSGI Funds) 2. 21st CCLC 3. McKinney-Vento 4. School Counselor Corps 5. Expelled and At-Risk

Student Services 6. Foster Care Education 7. Designated Graduation

Districts 8. Expanded Learning

Opportunities

Tools and Trainings Training - Standards, Ed.

Effectiveness, UIP Facilitated Discussions RISE/School View Communication/Website

Service and Support

Special Initiatives ICAP Graduation Guidelines Endorsed Diploma Concurrent Enrollment Charter School Start-Up

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Thank You