High School Dropouts: the Trends and the Challenge

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High School Dropouts the Trends and the Challenge

• DWS Council of Councils
• October 12, 2006
• Dawn Kay-Stevenson

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Whatever It Takes

• The large majority of out-of-school youth have
  been impeded not only by poor prior schooling,
  but also by social, economic, and psychological
  barriers to effective learning. To become
  successful adults they need multiple supports

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Whatever It Takes

• Beyond question, youth must acquire literacy,
  numeracy and communication skills to be
  adequately prepared for adult life.

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Whatever It Takes

• Effective dropout reconnection efforts are
  comprehensive, youth-centered, flexible,
  intentional, pragmatic and inclusive of extensive
  post-graduation follow-up

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Whatever It Takes

• Young people want to learn and succeed
• Service in the community is a key to many
  effective drip-out recovery efforts

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Whatever It Takes

• Committed adults, steadfast in their support of
  young peoples success, are the key element of
  dropout recovery.

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Whatever It Takes

• Language is an important consideration in the
  world of drop-out recovery
• School districts must take responsibility for all
  of their young people and reach out to
  disconnected youth

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Whatever It Takes

• Many practices prevalent in successful
  alternative and second-chance programs should
  be adopted by the first-chance system to
  improve student retention and academic success

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Whatever It Takes

• While charter schools evoke passionate, often
  negative, reactions in many educational circles,
  their flexibility and adaptability make them
  increasingly popular among non-profit,
  community-based organizations dedicated to
  reconnecting out-of-school youth to the
  mainstream.

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Recommendations

• Open Entry/Open Exit
• Flexible Scheduling and Year-round Learning
• Teachers as Coaches, Facilitators, and Crew
  Leaders
• Real-world, Career-Oriented Curricula

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Recommendations

• Opportunities for Employment
• Clear Codes of Conduct with Consistent
  Enforcement
• Extensive Support Services
• A Portfolio Options for a Varied Group