school dropout prevention

SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION

The Most Exciting Twenty Minutes of Your Life… Probably

Students who are “at risk” of failing and show signs of being on the verge of withdrawing from school.

AT RISK CHILDREN

a person who stops going to a school, college, etc., before finishing

a person who stops being involved in society because he or she does not believe in its rules, customs, and values

DROPOUT

Dropout - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout

“Two-thirds…said they would have worked harder to graduate if their schools had demanded more of them and provided the necessary academic and personal supports to help them succeed.”

“‘There wasn’t anybody to keep me there,’ said a young man from Philadelphia, who had dreams of going to college, dropped out of high school with just one year to go, regrets the decision, and is now unemployed.”

“As [students] grew older, there was more freedom and other distractions to draw them away from school. 62% reported they had grades of C’s or better when they left school and 70% were confident they could have met their school’s graduation requirements. More than half (58%) dropped out with just two years or less to complete high school, and 74% would have stayed in school if they had to do it over again.”

WHAT THE KIDS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT DROPPING OUT

New Report Illuminates America’s “Silent” Dropout Epidemic– Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.-b). Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2006/03/Americas-Silent-Dropout-Epidemic

DROPOUT STATISTICS NCES Study on public High school

public dropouts for 2012 6.6% All Races 4.3% Whites 7.5% Blacks 12.7% Hispanics

Digest of Education Statistics, 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_219.70.asp

DROPOUT STATISTICS Males

7.3% All Races 4.8% Whites 8.1% Blacks 13.9% Hispanics

Females 5.9% All Races 3.8% Whites 7.0% Blacks 11.3% Hispanics


2007 Article “In general, males are more likely to be

dropouts than females (9.8% vs. 7.7%), but teenage pregnancy and parenthood are particularly strong risk factors for young women, especially in the United States”

Half of female dropouts receive their GED by 22.

DROPOUT STATISTICS

Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and Intervention Programs: Effects on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2011:8 . Campbell Collaboration.

2007 Study: Five major reasons identified 47% Bored with school. 43% Too many missed days to catch up with work 42% spend a lot of time with other at risk children 38% Too much autonomy in their lives 35% Were already failing.

WHY STUDENTS DROP OUT

ERIC - Why Students Drop Out, Educational Leadership, 2007-Apr. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ766421

Pregnancy Work becomes a priority Unsafe environment Trouble fitting in.

OTHER REASONS WHY STUDENTS DROP OUT

INFOGRAPHIC: America’s School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers. (1920a, October 3). Huffington Post. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/sundance-infographic-americas-school_n_4032373.htmlJones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 10–13.Jones, J. L. (2009a). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 77–90.Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and Intervention Programs: Effects on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2011:8 . Campbell Collaboration.

STUDENTS MOST AT RISK Low socioeconomic status Minorities ESL students Disabled Frequent movers Poor readers Drug Users Bored in school

Retained students Constantly suspended

and expelled Come from single

parent homes “Home alone more

than 3 hours a day” Pregnancy

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 10–13.Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 77–90.

STUDENT DISENGAGEMENT “Although there is no single risk factor

that accurately predicts who is at-risk of dropping out and dropouts are not a homogenous group, the chance of dropping out is often a long process of disengagement that may begin before a child enters school.”46794405.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/D79/01Jul09/46794405.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=46794405&S=R&D=lih&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeqLI4xNvgOLCmr0yeprRSs6e4SLKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGusU60pq9LuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

Instead of blaming at risk students for dropping out, educators are reevaluating the school system to “strengthen schools, students, and communities” in an effort to prevent students from dropping out.

WHAT IS DROPOUT PREVENTION?

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 10–13.

Mentoring/Tutoring “Mentoring is a one-to-one caring, supportive relationship between a mentor and a mentee that

is based on trust. Tutoring, also a one-to-one activity, focuses on academics and is an effective practice when addressing specific needs such as reading, writing, or math competencies.”

Service-Learning “Service-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.”

Alternative Schooling “Alternative schooling provides potential dropouts a variety of options that can lead to

graduation, with programs paying special attention to the student's individual social needs and academic requirements for a high school diploma.”

After-School Opportunities “Many schools provide after-school and summer enhancement programs that eliminate

information loss and inspire interest in a variety of areas. Such experiences are especially important for students at risk of school failure because these programs fill the afternoon "gap time" with constructive and engaging activities.”

DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies

Family Engagement “Research consistently finds that family engagement has a direct, positive

effect on children's achievement and is the most accurate predictor of a student's success in school.”

Early Childhood Education “Birth-to-five interventions demonstrate that providing a child additional

enrichment can enhance brain development. The most effective way to reduce the number of children who will ultimately drop out is to provide the best possible classroom instruction from the beginning of their school experience through the primary grades.”

Early Literacy Development “Early interventions to help low-achieving students improve their reading and

writing skills establish the necessary foundation for effective learning in all other subjects.”



Systemic Renewal “A continuing process of evaluating goals and objectives related to school

policies, practices, and organizational structures as they impact a diverse group of learners.”

School-Community Collaboration “When all groups in a community provide collective support to the school, a

strong infrastructure sustains a caring supportive environment where youth can thrive and achieve.”

Safe Learning Environments “A comprehensive violence prevention plan, including conflict resolution, must

deal with potential violence as well as crisis management. A safe learning environment provides daily experiences, at all grade levels, that enhance positive social attitudes and effective interpersonal skills in all students.”



Professional Development “Teachers who work with youth at high risk of academic failure need to feel supported and have an avenue by

which they can continue to develop skills, techniques, and learn about innovative strategies.” Active Learning

“Active learning embraces teaching and learning strategies that engage and involve students in the learning process. Students find new and creative ways to solve problems, achieve success, and become lifelong learners when educators show them that there are different ways to learn.”

Educational Technology “Technology offers some of the best opportunities for delivering instruction to engage students in authentic

learning, addressing multiple intelligences, and adapting to students' learning styles.” Individualized Instruction

“Each student has unique interests and past learning experiences. An individualized instructional program for each student allows for flexibility in teaching methods and motivational strategies to consider these individual differences.”

Career and Technology Education (CTE) “A quality CTE program and a related guidance program are essential for all students. School-to-work

programs recognize that youth need specific skills to prepare them to measure up to the larger demands of today's workplace.”



“Continue to advocate for the rights of students to read challenging books that are relevant to their life circumstances”

Gather “brain game books” like Brain Busters! Mind-Stretching Puzzles in Math and Logic to cultivate critical thinking

Make positive relationships with students Really get to know them

After School tutoringStudies suggest peer tutoring decreases drop out rate.

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ROLE


Advocate for curriculum changes based on local college demands. Go to standup.org to see the percent of

students for a given state are ready for college. Learn about the school’s ethnic and

socioeconomic culture. “Recognize when [your] own professional

dispositions may need to be adjusted and are able to develop plans to do so”

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ROLE


Urge teachers to utilize library texts that reflect various reading levels and learning styles.

Use teacher collaboration to inspire new learning projects that meet the needs of all. “Schools that have large numbers of dropouts tend to

have inflexible schedules narrow curricula, uninspired teaching, rigid instructional strategies and inappropriate texts and resources.”

Don‘t make homework too easy.

ENHANCING CURRICULUM


Leave articles that will help with student life decisions in hard to miss places throughout the school.

Use real life problems and concerns as a teaching expereince.

Provide opportunitites for “meaningful participation”

ENHANCING CURRICULUM


Make the media center/school library an inviting place to students.

Be inviting to identified “at risk” students and students who have problems fitting in.

Don’t push kids out of the media room/library.

Help students build relationships with one another.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING


http://www.urban.org/ http://www.dropoutprevention.org/ http://www.gatesfoundation.org http://www.edtrust.org/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: WEBSITES

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/

http://www.edtrust.org/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: Graduation for All: A

Practical Guide to Decreasing School Dropout. By Camilla A Lehr,Ann T.

Clapper, and Martha Thurlow Dropouts in America:

Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis. Edited by Gary Orfield

Image source: http://www.amazon.com/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: Best Practices to Help

At-Risk Learners Franklin P. Schargel

Helping Students Graduate: A Strategic Approach to Dropout Prevention. Jay Smink and Franklin

P. SchargelImage source: http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/publications/all-publications-by-title

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: BOOKS



Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.amazon.com/


Dropout - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout


ERIC - Why Students Drop Out, Educational Leadership, 2007-Apr. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ766421

INFOGRAPHIC: America’s School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers. (1920a, October 3). Huffington Post. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/sundance-infographic-americas-school_n_4032373.html


Jones, J. L. (2009a). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 77–90. 46794405.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/D79/01Jul09/46794405.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=46794405&S=R&D=lih&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeqLI4xNvgOLCmr0yeprRSs6e4SLKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGusU60pq9LuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

National Dropout Prevention Center/Network |. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.dropoutprevention.org/ New Report Illuminates America’s “Silent” Dropout Epidemic– Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

(n.d.-b). Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2006/03/Americas-Silent-Dropout-Epidemic

Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and Intervention Programs: Effects on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2011:8. Campbell Collaboration.

REFERENCES PAGE

school dropout prevention

Documents