Coahoma County School District Dropout Prevention Plan Pauline J. Rhodes, Superintendent.

Coahoma County School District

Dropout Prevention Plan

Pauline J. Rhodes, Superintendent

• The Mississippi Department of Education recently released the graduation, completion and dropout rates for the Class of 2007. The following is an excerpt from the State Superintendent's press release on these rates:   "In many ways, it is a good news/bad news story. First, the good news: We are making progress in reducing the dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate. We had 187 more graduates in the Class of 2007 than we had in the Class of 2006. When you consider the increased earning potential of a high school graduate when compared to a high school dropout, those 187 graduates will earn about $53 million more over their lifetime than their counterparts who dropped out. In addition, that's 187 Mississippians who will use fewer state resources in terms of social services. So, that is very good news for Mississippi's economy. $53 million is a great return on our investment. Now, the bad news: This is not a victory party. We are still a long way from where we need to be. We are on the right track, but there is still much work to be done.  We have been focusing on dropout prevention for the past three years, but in the last year, we have really seen a surge in efforts focused on this issue. The numbers we have now are from the Class of 2007, who graduated before our "On the Bus" campaign was launched and before local groups submitted their local dropout prevention plans created by their local dropout prevention teams. As they begin implementing those plans, I expect to see even greater progress being made."

Of course, being able to measure progress accurately begins with a good system. U.S. Secretary Margaret Spellings recently announced that the SEDE was moving to require all states to use the National Governors Association method. Mississippi is one of only a handful of states that can do that at this time. The NGA method requires that you track a 9th through 12th grade cohort group, with only first-time ninth graders includedUsing the NGA method, the graduation rate for the Class of 2007 is 73.8 percent, while the dropout rate is15.9 percent. The graduation rate for the Class of 2006 was 70.8 percent, while while the dropout rate was 17.6 percentThere is a drawback to the NGA method that it only tracks students from 9th grade forward. We know that we have almost 2,000 students who leave the 8th grade and never make it to the 9th grade. There are also anomalies in the data from the district level and we are addressing that issue through focused monitoring and technical assistance.We know that students start dropping out the day they are born. So how do we create success for Mississippi’s boys and girls and economic prosperity for Mississippi?The State Board has been very bold in creating two overarching goals for the state:

• To reduce the dropout rate by 50 percent in the next five to seven years• To reach the national average on national assessments in the next five to seven years

They have identified five strategies to help attain these goals:• To increase the rigor of the curriculum and assessment system

• To increase the quantity and quality of teachers• To increase the quantity and quality of school leaders• To create a culture in Mississippi that values education• To redesign education for the 21st Century workforce in Mississippi

We have several initiatives underway to implement these strategies, including:• Redesigning middle and high schools• Focusing on early education• Aligning our curriculum and assessment system with national standards• Informing the public about the dropout problem through the “On the Bus“ campaign and

summits• Working with the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, which is funded through a $16.9

million investment from the Kellogg Foundation

However, we cannot solve this problem alone. We need your help.Now is when we turn our attention to the grassroots level work. Now is the time for parents, faith-based organizations, business leaders and civic organizations to demand excellence from their communities’ schools and help to achieve that excellence. I encourage you to be a part of making change occur.

This is an important milestone, but it is far from the end of the journey. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that all students graduate and become contributing members of society. I look forward to working with all of you to help our students attain a brighter future for themselves and create a better economy and better quality of life for all Mississippians.

Mission

The mission of the Coahoma County School District is to provide each child opportunities for intellectual stimulation, self-realization, and physical and emotional growth in an effort to prepare him/her to achieve his/her potential and to function effectively as a member of an ever-changing society. These educational opportunities must be appropriate to the needs of the community and society served; dynamic and diverse; and continuously adjusted and improved.

Dropout Defined

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) adopted the National Center for Education Statistics definition of a dropout. A Dropout is an individual who:

• was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year;

• was not enrolled in school at the beginning of the current school year and;

• has not graduated from high school or completed a state district approved educational program (GED program); and,

Dropout Defined continued …

does not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions:

• transfer to another public school district, private school, or state or district approved educational program (GED program);

• temporary absence due to suspension or school-approved illness;

• or death

National Statistics

• 1.2 million students dropped out of school in 2006

• $60 Billion Annual cost to tax payers for prisoners, jails, juvenile detention centers

• 8 times more likely to end up in jail or prison

National Statistics continued…

• Dropouts make up 75% of the state inmate population

• Dropouts make up 59% of the federal inmate population

A Study of 1,000

• A study of 1,000 young people showed that children with mentors were:

• 46% less likely to begin school using illegal drugs

• 27% less likely to begin school using alcohol

• 53% less likely to skip school• 33% less likely to engage in school

violence

District Demographics

• Elementary Schools □ 4 – Grade K – 6

□ Enrollment 1116 □ Counselor/Student Ratio 1/551

• Junior-Senior High School □ 1 – Grade 7 – 12 □ Enrollment 596 □ Counselor/Student Ratio 1/310

District Stats Based on 2006-2007 Data

• Graduation Rate 66.2• Dropout Rate 20.3• Truancy Rate 35.9

Keepin’ it real …

15 Dropout Prevention Strategies

• Systemic Renewal• School-Community Collaboration• Safe Learning Environments• Family Engagement• Early Childhood Education• Early Literacy Development

15 Strategies continued …

• Mentoring/Tutoring• Service-Learning• Alternative Schooling• After-School Opportunities• Professional Development• Active Learning• Educational Technology

15 Strategies continued …

• Individualized Instruction• Career and Technical Education

(CTE)

Proposed Initiatives

• School-Community Collaboration ◊Participation in the National Child

Society ◊ Bower Foundation Grant/Friars

Point• Family Engagement ◊ To increase parent participation

Proposed Initiatives continued …

• Professional Development ◊ Engage consultants for school

improvement at each school• Individualized Instruction ◊ Computer based programs ◊ Training on interventions ◊ Differentiated Instruction

Proposed Initiatives continued …

• Teacher Recruitment ◊ Secure and retain highly

qualified teachers ◊ Establish an effective teacher

mentoring program

Proposed Initiatives continued …

• Student Forum ◊ To allow student a voice in proposing

and developing initiatives• Character Education ◊ To improve student conduct• Student Achievement ◊To improve performance on all State

level testing ◊ Jobs for Mississippi Graduates ◊ Credit Recovery Plan (PLATO)

What Can We Do? -

Committed to Caring – Dedicated to Excellence

What can be done …

What can be done to assist students who drop out of school for the following reasons:  "I don't like school," "I got bad grades," "I couldn't keep up," "I got a job," "I couldn't get along with ...," "I couldn't work and go to school," "I became a parent," "who needs a diploma?", "I'm flunking out anyway," "I'm always in trouble at school,"  and "nobody cares"?

Our Other Dropout Epidemic …

Together We Can Make a Difference