"Getting to Graduation" in Our Region

There is exciting work underway in our region’s school districts to help more students graduate from high school through dropout prevention, intervention and retrieval programs. The efforts include improved data gathering systems, the identification of early indicators, and targeted intervention programs.

Early Warning Indicators - Any one of these indicators predict risk of dropping out:

• Attendance and Discipline
  • Two days of unexcused absence in any school year
  • A single suspension in any middle school or early high school grade

• Grade Level at High School Entry
  • Being one or more years older than grade-level average
  • Entering after 9th grade in high school

• Core Course Grades and GPA
• Earning two or more Fs in any grade from 7th through 10th
• Earning a GPA of 1.74 or below in 7th or 8th grades
• Earning a GPA of 1.49 or below in 9th or 10th grades

• "Very Low" State Assessment Reading Scores
• Scoring in level 1 of 4 on the state testing scale

• Timing of Risk
  • At the end of any school year in which the student earned one or more Fs in a core course or had 5+ days of unexcused absence; and
  • At the point of expected graduation, when the in-place dropouts leave school without a diploma.

 

Kent School District’s “Getting to Graduation” Efforts
Last year, the Kent School District formed the Getting to Graduation Steering Committee, comprised of community members, students, teachers, counselors, and building and district administrators. The committee closely examined the status of the drop-out rate in their district, looked at best practices throughout the area and nation, and developed a district action plan. A comprehensive data-gathering and examination process allowed Kent to recognize early warning indicators and create a system to flag students at risk for dropping out. These indicators include as few as two F’s in any grade from 7th to 10th, two days of unexcused absences in any school year, a single suspension in any middle school or early high school grade, or late entry into their cohort group.

Kent SD worked with PSESD and followed the recommendations in the Dropout Prevention Planning Guidebook (PDF), a self-assessment and planning tool created by PSESD’s Reinvesting in Youth program which involved Kent, Renton and Federal Way School Districts. Kent SD is beginning to implement a strategic action plan to help all K-12 counselors and teachers pinpoint the youth who are at the highest risk of dropping out. The plan aims to assure that more students achieve the essential benchmark of high school graduation.

“Kent School District now has a data dashboard system in place for a test group of teachers and administrators which alerts team members when a student’s risk factor elevates and intervention is necessary,” Kent’s Assistant Superintendent of Learning and School Improvement Merri Rieger said. “At the classroom level, we are concerned with the indicators that a teacher can see and address such as attendance, discipline and academic achievement. At the principal and district level, we look at factors such as timing of entry into the cohort, WASL scores and the student’s academic history.”

Regional Efforts - The PathNet Plan
PathNet is a systematic coordinated Pathway of Networked community-based programs and services that re-engages youth toward an end goal of a living wage job and career. This April, the Models for Change Grant from the MacArthur Foundation will help support a two-year PathNet Pilot serving 200 probation youth who have dropped out or have too few credits to graduate. Data and evaluation results will be collected for potential replication.

The first step will be to ensure each student has a current strength-based assessment, evaluating skills and strengths while taking into account vocational interests. A student-driven plan will be created by each youth based on the student’s own wants and strengths, to increase motivation and engagement. The student will then be connected to an appropriate education, vocation and/or on-the-job training opportunity. During and after this process, students will work with a care manager who will monitor their plans and work with the students.

This dropout retrieval pilot is being supported nationally as a juvenile justice reform initiative to create an alternative to incarceration and recidivism. Policy reform is also focusing on efforts to allow the GEDplus as an incentive in ESEA for the reengagement of dropouts who have so few credits that graduation is unattainable. Though not comparable to a diploma, it is still an alternate pathway toward the end goal of vocation and career for many students.

The High Price of Dropping Out
Individuals who lack a high school diploma not only have a difficult time finding a living wage-earning job or career, they are much more likely to commit crimes. The King County Systems Integration Initiative, in a 2005 study, found taht 70% of youth on probation in the King County Juvenile Justice System had already dropped out or had so few credits that graduation would be unattainable. At the adult level, 65-70% of Washington state inmates never graduated from high school. One of the most effective deterrents to incarceration is to keep youth in school.

Download the Dropout Prevention Planning Guidebook (PDF) from PSESD's Reinvesting in Youth Program.

For more information about dropout prevention and PathNet, contact Dr. Mick Moore at (425) 917-7615, (253) 778-7615 or mmoore@psesd.org.

 

Congratulations to Lea Hill Elementary School's Lori Sanford, PSESD's 2010 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year

Congratulations to Lori Sanford, Office Manager at Lea Hill Elementary School in Auburn School District. She is Puget Sound ESD’s Classified School Employee of
the Year.

Sanford has worked in Auburn School District for 18 years. In her role as office manager she has been an ambassador for the school, creating a welcoming environment for students and families starting with the first visit and each encounter thereafter. A few of her many responsibilities are managing the school budget, payroll, and work orders. She is in charge of school communication, including the school calendars, website, newsletter, outside reader board, weekly bulletin and events notices. She has chaired the Safety Committee and written two successful safety grants, awarding the school funds to purchase safety supplies for the school crossing zone, supplies for the safety container and walkie-talkies for emergency communication. She collaborated with the local city government to help facilitate the installation of cameras in the local walking zone. In addition, she is the ASB Liaison and teaches students about fundraising finances, bill paying and handling of student funds.

Sanford has been awarded the Auburn School District Classified Employee of the Year, the Lea Hill PTA Golden Mustang Award, Auburn’s Council of PTA’s Outstanding Service Award and the Lea Hill PTA Golden Acorn Award.

“The office is the heart and soul of Lea Hill Elementary; this is directly due to Mrs. Sanford’s leadership. Her attitude and experience are instrumental to our customer service approach.”

“Lori is a take-charge person who is able to overcome any obstacle that might present itself in our office and communicates effectively with staff and families. She is a cheerful force that greets all visitors as they enter our building.”

“Lori looks and acts professional at all times.  She has always treated staff and visitors with warm respect. She thinks of many details that make the ELL parents feel accepted and welcomed, such as getting translators to events or registrations.”

“She (Mrs. Sanford) always explained everything so we knew exactly what we were signing. She was really nice; she was humorous; she wore really cool red glasses; she was a fancy dresser; she always told us thank you and have a good rest of the day.”

The Puget Sound Classified Employee of the Year Program is part of the Washington State Classified School Employee of the Year Program. Each ESD selects one Classified School Employee of the Year from the school districts within their region. The regional recipients become nominees to the Washington State Classified School Employee of the Year Program.

For more information, contact Jane Robb-Linse at (425) 917-7855, (253) 778-7855 or jrobb@psesd.org.

 

Call for 2011 Regional Teacher of the Year Nominations

School district nominations for the Regional Teacher of the Year award are being accepted by Puget Sound ESD through May 7, 2010. The Teacher of the Year program is part of a nationwide initiative to honor and recognize exceptional educators.
Each school district may nominate two teachers. Each ESD will select one regional teacher of the year from the school districts in its area. The nine regional finalists will move on to the state competition. The teacher selected as Washington’s Teacher of the Year will compete for the national title.

Download the Nomination Form (Word Doc)

For information on the nomination process, contact your school district administrative office. For information on the Teacher of the Year program, contact Julie Rolling, (425) 917- 7806, (253) 778-7806, 1-800-664-4549, x7806, or jrolling@@psesd.org.