Dropout Prevention in the Middle Grades

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Dropout Prevention in the Middle Grades

• Jennifer DounayEducation Commission of the
  States
• 37th Annual New York State Association of Black
  and
• Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc. Caucus Weekend
• Albany, NYFebruary 16, 2008

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About ECS

• 50-state education compact estd 1965
• Nonpartisan, nonprofit
• State fees, grants, corporate giving
• Serves all state-level education policymakers
  and their staffs
• Governors
• Legislators
• State board members
• State superintendents
• SHEEOs and higher education boards

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About the study

• Preventing Student Disengagement in Middle
  Schools (Johns Hopkins, Philadelphia Ed. Fund,
  2007)
• Philadelphia high-poverty schools
• How early in MG can students be IDd?
• Can students be IDd reliably/easily by
• Teachers?
• Administrators?

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Four grade 6 indicators

• IDd 60 of students who dropped out
• Failing English
• Failing math
• Attendance 80 or less
• Final behavior marks (or suspension)
• Behavior failing increased odds of DO
• 52 0, 29 1, 11 2, 5 3

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Motivation/achievement

• Diff. factors affect diff. student outcomes
• Academic press ? student behavior
• Utility ? effort
• Parent involvement ? effort/attendance
• PI Parents feel welcome/help w/ homework
• Intrinsic interest ? effort/attendance

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Whats the answer?

• Comprehensive vs. piecemeal approach
• Research-based curriculum
• Intensive teacher PD and support (in class)
• Focused student help in math, reading
• Org. changes improve school community
• Combo of small LC, teacher teams, looping

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Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz,
Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
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Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz,
Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
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Three-tiered approach(from Table 12, Balfanz,
Herzog, MacIver, 2007)
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On-demand, classroom-level data
program(Educational Leadership, Oct. 2007)

• Teachers track individual students daily
• Quickly ID those needing more intensive help
• ID students who have responded to intensive help
• Very successful so far
• Philly will make available thru districtwide data
  management system

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Policy options

• Pilot comprehensive model
• Competitive grant
• ID districts in advance
• Incorporate info re MG early warning indicators
  in teacher, admin. prep./PD

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jdounay_at_ecs.org

• 303.299.3689