dropout prevention in california schools through civic engagement

Learn – Serve – AchieveLearn – Serve – AchieveDropout Prevention in California Schools through Civic Dropout Prevention in California Schools through Civic

Engagement in Service LearningEngagement in Service Learning

California Department of Education CalServe Initiative

The Cost of our Dropout Epidemic in America Nearly one third of students fail to graduate with their

class, nearly half of minorities Dropouts:

earn about $1 million less over their lifetimes are twice more likely to slip into poverty are 8 times more likely to be in jail are half as likely to vote and a fourth as likely to volunteer

as college grads create enormous economic costs to society

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The Dropout Epidemic in California

Approximately 1/3 of California high school students do not graduate.

Dropouts will spend more time unemployed, on government assistance, or cycling in and out of prison.

Dropouts will contribute about $60,000 less in taxes over a lifetime.

California loses about $46 billion a year (jail, government assistance, increase in crime).

Why Students Drop OutThe Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts

There is no single reason why students drop out of high school. Respondents report different reasons: A lack of connection to the school environment A perception that school is boring Feeling unmotivated Academic challenges The weight of real world events

A report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, March 2006


47% said a major reason for dropping out was that classes were not interesting Bored and disengaged from high school Spent time with people not interested in school Evident among students who are

motivated to work hard and have high GPAs.



69% not motivated or inspired to work hard 80% did one hour or less of homework

each day 2/3 would work harder if

expectations were higher 70% believe they could graduate

if they tried harder



Personal Reasons Cited: 32% needed to get a job to earn money 26% became a parent 22% had to care for a family member



Academic Challenges: 35% said “failing in school” was a major factor

3 out of 10 could not keep up with schoolwork 43% missed too many days and could not catch

up

45% already “behind” when they entered high school

32% required to repeat a grade before dropping out


Two Reports Suggested the Potential for Service-Learning to Address issues of Dropout and Civic Engagement

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• The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts

• America’s Civic Health Index: Broken Engagement

81% - Opportunities for real-world learning (service-learning, internships) to make classroom

more relevant81% - Better teachers who keep classes interesting75% - Smaller classes with more individual instruction71% - Better communication between parents & school,

get parents more involved71% - Parents make sure their kids go to school every

day70% - Increase supervision at school: ensure students

attend classes

Service-Learning Tops the List of Ways Schools Can Improve, According to Dropouts

Recommended Policies to Address Dropout Improve teaching and curricula to make school

more relevant and engaging and enhance the connections between school and work

Improve instruction and access to supports for struggling students

Build a school climate that fosters academics Ensure strong adult-student relationships within

the school

SERVICE-LEARNING CAN ADDRESS EACH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS

Measured 40 indicators of civic health over last 30 years Only 3% of Americans who attend club meetings and

work on community projects are dropouts Compared to college graduates, dropouts are:

1/2 as likely to vote 1/4 as likely to volunteer 1/3 as likely to attend club meetings 1/2 as likely to engage in public work

in communities

America’s Civic Health Index: Broken Engagement

15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention

School and Community Perspective1. Systemic Renewal

2. School-Community Collaboration

3. Safe Learning Environments

Early Interventions4. Family Engagement

5. Early Childhood Education

6. Early Literacy Development

College of Health, Education and Human Development at Clemson University

National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention

Basic Core Strategies7. Mentoring/Tutoring

8. Service-Learning*9. Alternative Schooling10. After-School Opportunities

Making the Most of Instruction11. Professional Development12. Active Learning13. Educational Technology14. Individualized Instruction15. Career and Technical Education



15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

*Service-LearningService-learning connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning. This teaching/learning method promotes personal and social growth, career development and civic responsibility and can be a powerful vehicle for effective school reform at all grade levels.



Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

What is Service-Learning?

The service provides a The service provides a contextcontext for learning. for learning.

Service-learning is not:

An episodic volunteer program An add-on to an existing school or college

curriculum Completing minimum service hours in order to

graduate Service assigned as a form of punishment Only for high school or college students One-sided: benefiting only students or only the

community

National Commission on Service-Learning

Service-learning…

Links to academic content and standards Involves young people in helping to determine and

meet real, defined community needs Is reciprocal in nature, benefiting both the

community and the service providers by combining a service experience with a learning experience

Can be used in any subject area so long as it is appropriate to learning goal

Works at all ages, even among young children

National Commission on Service-Learning

Service-learning…

Kids Consortium Activity - What is it?

In small groups learn the difference between

-community service

-community-based learning

-service learning

Service-learning can:

Build Civic Competence Improve Academic Achievement Build Strong Student-Adult Relationships Make Learning Meaningful Help students connect to the school

environment Building Resilience

Service-Learning - Build Civic Competence

Prepare all of America’s young people to be competent and responsible citizens who:

• are informed and thoughtful and have a knowledge of history and how American democracy works.

• participate in their communities and work with others to address cultural, social, and

political issues.

• act politically by having the skills, knowledge and commitment to accomplish public purposes.

• are socially responsible, tolerant, and believe in the capacity to make a difference.

Educating for Democracy California Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

Six Promising Approaches for Civic Education

Instruction in government, history, law, and democracy.Discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events.Service-learning activities linked to classroom instruction and civic outcomes.

Extra-curricular activities that get youth involved in their schools and communities.Student participation in school/classroom governance and decision-making.Simulations of democratic processes such as mock trials or legislative deliberations that promote more political knowledge and interest.

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Civic Mission of Schools

Plus, interaction with adult role models, especially those whose work relates to civic knowledge, skills, or

dispositions.

Marshall High School Los Angeles Unified School District

Students in history and government classes meet one day a week to identify and address public policy issues related to teen pregnancy, race relations, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, and

the drop out rate.

Each group meets with “experts" on their issue and collaborate with students from local colleges and universities to develop solutions.


Los Angeles County Office of Education

Afflerbaugh-Paige Juvenile Court School

Students utilize We the People: Project Citizen to address a problem of concern to them - lack of career technical education course offerings in their educational

program

Students presented their public policy proposal at the LACOE Board of Education and Project Citizen State showcase


Eureka Unified School District

Humboldt State University S-L interns partnered with 5th grade

classes and gave interactive presentations on hunger issues.

5th graders then created posters to advertise their school’s canned food drive and identify the most needed food donations.

Service-Learning - Build Strong Student-Adult Relationships

Center for Multicultural Cooperation After‑School Chavez Service Club

Punjabi students wearing turbans were being bullied and did not want to attend the afterschool program. Middle grade students produced a digital story about a Punjab community leader and showed it to the school.

Students (and school personnel) learned about the community's culture as they produced video documentaries. www.digiclub.org

Service-Learning - Make Learning Meaningful

Lake Elizabeth

At-risk students learned geography, biology, and history by participating in a multi-year hands on restoration of Stiver’s Lagoon.

This City/School/Non-profit partnership resulted in improved attendance and academic performance for 9th & 10th grade students.

Service-Learning - Improve Academic Achievement

Service-Learning - Help students connect to the school environment

Project Fremont

Students in World History and 10th grade English investigated the needs of immigrant groups in Fremont.

“Project Fremont helps the diverse population of Fremont feel more comfortable away from their original countries.”

Resilience

The capacity to spring back, rebound, successfully adapt in the face of adversity, and develop social and academic competence despite exposure to severe stress.

Wolin & Wolin, Project Resilience

http://www.projectresilience.com/

Resiliency Attributes

Relationships Independence Competence Creativity Optimism

Taken from Bouncing Back: Strengthening Resilience Through Service-Learning,2008

Service-Learning - Building Resilience

Service-Learning can provide students with opportunities to become resilient

in counteracting a number of risk factors associated with school dropout.


Attributes of Resilience

Service-Learning

Standards

Relationships Independence Competence

Creativity

Optimism

Meaningful Service

Empathy

Autonomy Conviction

Mastery Successful

Problem Solving Flexibility

Sense of Purpose Motivation Altruist ic Sense of Meaning

Link to Curriculum

Autonomy Positive Identity

Mastery Confident Critical Thinking

Problem Solving Resourceful Imaginative

Motivation

Reflection

Caring Compassion Social Competence

Internal Locus Positive Identity

Self-Efficacy Critical Thinking Confident

Problem Solving Resourceful Imaginative Flexibility

Sense of Purpose Sense of Meaning Humor Altruist ic

Diversity

Caring Compassion Social Competence Empathy Sociability and Friendliness Trusting

Self-Discipline Conviction

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving Flexibility

Hopefulness

Bouncing Back, Strengthening Resilience Through Service-Learning,

National Dropout Prevention Center/Network, 2008

Service-Learning & Building Resilience

Bouncing Back, Strengthening Resilience Through Service-Learning, National Dropout Prevention Center/Network, 2008

Attributes of Resilience

Service-Learning

Standards

Relationships Independence Competence

Creativity

Optimism

Youth Voice

Social Competence Belonging Sociability and Friendliness

Autonomy Responsible Internal Locus of Control Positive Identity Initiative

Mastery Confident Self-Efficacy Critical Thinking

Problem Solving Resourceful Imaginative Flexibility

Motivation Humor

Partnerships

Caring Belonging Social Competence Sociability and Friendliness Trusting

Responsible Self-Discipline Positive Identity Initiative

Confident Self-Efficacy Critical Thinking

Flexibility

Sense of Purpose Hopefulness

Progress Monitoring

Social Competence

Responsible

Confident Persistent Successful Critical Thinking

Resourceful Flexibility

Sense of Purpose

Duration and Intensity

Caring Belonging Compassion Trusting

Autonomy Responsible Self-Discipline Conviction

Mastery Confident Successful Self-Efficacy Critical Thinking Persistent

Resourceful Flexibility

Hopefulness Sense of Purpose Motivation Humor

Service-Learning & Building Resilience

Research Nationally representative survey of 807

high school students Focus groups of service-learning teachers Interviews with students from service-

learning programs National literature review of both service-

learning and dropout

Research:Connection to School Environment Poor attendance is the best predictor of dropping out 82% of service-learning students (and 79% of all

students, and 80% of at-risk students) would feel more positive about school if they had more service-learning

Service-learning teachers said that service-learning led to stronger relationships with students

Teachers said that service-learning improved attendance

Other research shows connection between service-learning and higher attendance (Laird and Black, 2002; Shumer, 1994; Rolzinski, 1990)

Connection to School Environment

“I would absolutely think that it impacts attendance, because it

goes back to if they’re doing something that they enjoy.”

Service-learning teacher from Kansas

City

“Service-learning makes me want to come to school, because it's not the

same thing all the time.”

Service-learning student

Research:Classroom Engagement Boring classes and a lack of a challenging

curriculum often lead to disengagement and dropout

45% of service-learning students said their service-learning classes were more worthwhile than other classes; only 3% said they are less worthwhile

Other research confirms that service-learning has a significant effect on school engagement (Melchior, 1999)

Engaging Students and Opening Minds

“There are so many stereotypes that I think service-learning

helps to break down.” Service-learning

teacher from New York

“It’s a better experience because you’re not in a class sitting down

writing on the board. You’re outside doing hands-on activities learning

about what’s around you.”


Research:Motivation 69% of dropouts are not motivated to work hard in

school and 66% would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them

77% of service-learning students say service-learning classes have a very or a fairly big effect on motivating them to work hard

Other research shows that service-learning improves self-confidence, sense of empowerment (Switzer, Simmons, Dew, Regalski and Wang, 1995)

Motivation

“As far as this young man goes, he wasn’t doing

anything in his classes and was probably on a good line

for dropping out and not finishing high school.” With the

motivation of the service-learning, however, he

graduated from high school.

Service-learning teacher from

Arizona

Research:Academic Performance 35% of dropouts say they were failing in

school 57% had difficulty passing from one grade to

the next Service-learning has been shown to improve

grades, test scores, homework completion, and reduce the achievement gap (Akujobi and Simmons, 1997; Billig and Klute, 2003; Klute, 2002; Melchior and Bailis, 2002; Scales and Roehlkepartain, 2005; Shumer, 1994; Schmidt, Shumow, and Kackar, 2007; Rolzinski, 1990)

Academic Performance

“I know for a fact that for the first time, and I’ve been

teaching English almost 30 years, those kids know that

subject matter better than any other research paper they’ve

done.”

Service-learning teacher who organizes

a project where her students write a book

and share it with younger students

Academic Performance

“I think one of the benefits of service-learning, as far as at-risk learners, is that you’re providing a very different type of educational

opportunity. So I think of my kinesthetic learners, my students who really can’t stay in their seats

for a 40-minute period, but who flourish when you tell them, ‘you need to plant trees’. And they’re

the ones who are at the forefront, planting just hundreds in a day,

because this is something where they know they can be

successful.”

Service-learning teacher

“Service-learning makes us think outside the box. There is more

to learning than a textbook and a bunch of tests.”


Research:Behavior 62% of dropouts say more classroom

discipline is necessary 57% say schools need to do more to prevent

violence Other research shows that service-learning

improves behavior (Switzer, Simmons, Dew, Regalski and Wang, 1995; Schmidt, Shumow, and Kackar, 2007)

Research:

Overall Effect on Graduation Percent of students who say that service-

learning would have a very big or a fairly big effect on keeping dropouts in school: 64% of all students 70% of Hispanic students 74% of African American students

Overall Effect on Graduation

“I think you would end up with a higher graduation rate,” one teacher explained, “because if they’re more engaged in their classes, they’re going to come to school. It’s active, authentic learning, and they’re getting

more out of it.”

Service-learning teacher

“I really feel like I am a different person because

before service-learning I didn’t really look at my community the way I do now. Before I

used to not really pay attention to anything. After all these

classes I look at my community and see that there

have to be some changes made.”Service-learning

student

12 Regions of the CA 12 Regions of the CA

Service-Learning NetworkService-Learning Network

Region 12 (LAUSD)

Regional Service Learning Leads provide leadership and collaborate with others to build capacity for service learning in K-12 schools throughout their regions.

Regional Service-Learning Trainers provide technical assistance to teachers, schools, districts and community partners

Go to www.yscal.org to find the Regional Lead in your region!

Resources for California

The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schoolswww.civicmissionofschools.org

The California Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools http://www.cms-ca.org

Constitutional Rights Foundation www.crf-usa.org

Center for Civic Education www.civiced.org

National Council for the Social Studies www.ncss.org

CalServe Initiative www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/sl

Excel Youth Zone XYZhttp://www.excelyouthzone.org

National Service Learning Clearinghouse http://www.servicelearning.org

CRF and LACOE Service-Learning Web Sites

www.crf-usa.org/service-learning

www.lacoe.edu/servicelearningla

Other list serves to inform our network

National Center for Drop Out Prevention Network (Service-Learning) - http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effstrat/service_learning/overview.htmThe National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N) was begun in 1986 to serve as a clearinghouse on issues related to dropout prevention and to offer strategies designed to increase the graduation rate in America's schools.

National Service Learning Partnership - http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reus_homepageNSLP is a nationwide network of members advancing service learning as a core part of every young person’s life and education. Offering free online training and resources about community-based service-learning, including Affinity Groups – a great way to stay connected and enhance professional development. http://nslp.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=reus_homepage

National Service Learning Clearing House - http://www.servicelearning.org/The Clearing House is America’s most comprehensive service-learning resource.

From Dropouts to Downturns: Why Service is America’s Solution

America today is facing a series of crises that also represent for us a true opportunity to innovate in a way that bets on American

David Eisner, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Nov. 13, 2008

citizens to be a part of the solutions in ways that are both new and that hearken back to our earliest traditions.

From Dropouts to Downturns: Why Service is America’s Solution

The drivers of this opportunity are these:The need is dire.Our resources are scarce.Our service and volunteering infrastructure is ready.

David Eisner, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Nov. 13, 2008

Our youth are ready.

And Americans of all ages are waiting to be asked.

This is an incredible moment, and we must seize it.