Recovering Dropouts
via Outreach and
Physical or Virtual
Reengagement Centers
Emmanuel Allen
Glen Biggs
Steve Dobo
Gail Forbes-Harris
Andrew O. Moore
Deirdre Pilch
National Dropout Prevention Network
October 15, 2012
Reasons for Dropping Out
375
428
Academic Reasons
School Climate
Personal
337
Working Definition:
Reengagement Center
• A staffed portal,
operating at the
citywide or school
district level, that
provides a one-stop
assessment and
referral service to reconnect educationally
disconnected youth
and young adults
with a best fit option
to complete a
secondary credential.
• First point of contact –
doorway back into schooling
• Central physical location, OR
readily accessible via roving
staff OR operates virtually
• May offer additional
education or support
services on site
• Intensive “caring adult”
staffing
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILIES
3
Basis In Context, Practice,
Research
• Identified need for system-level intervention
focused on dropout recovery
• Typically, one element in multiple pathways to
graduation strategy
• May serve as “pushing” edge of strategy (or
pull); shows full “customer base”
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILIES
4
Reengagement Center Policy Platforms
Management Role
Funding Sources
• School district
• District per-pupil
• Intermediary
• Child welfare
• City government
• Foundation
• Community college
• Combinations of
above
• Workforce Investment Act
• National Service - VISTAs
• High School Graduation
Initiative (HSGI) via
5
district/state
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Online “Drop In” Campaigns: Now in
Denver, Boulder, & Aurora, Colorado
Reengagement Portal Functions:
Recruitment, Intake, Assessment…
…Referral: Boulder Partners & Options
Post-referral in Boston:
Case Management / Graduation Coaches
10
Overall stick rate at end of school year: 69%
For developing local
reengagement capacity,
Alignment Nashville is….
A
collective
impact
organization
An
intermediary
organization
A convener for
community
alignment
of strategic
goals
A convener for
community
alignment
of existing
resources
and
more…
Community Engagement
Process: Committees
(design and implementation teams)
Community Engagement
Process: Structure
Board of Directors
(Governance)
Operating Board
(Operations)
Grade-Level
Committees
Children’s Health
Committees
Special Population
Committees
Design & Implementation Teams
Alignment Collaboration Portal
15
• (content, status, persons) about any committee or project quickly and
easily
• Find calendar events and agenda
• share documents
• collaborate manage projects
• assess results
Reengagement Centers:
Operational, Policy Issues to Consider
• Measuring effectiveness & impact:
common indicators?
• Systematically updating lists of offerings and
capacities of alternative schools, programs
• School calendar fit (mis-fit) // seat time
• Place within the emerging college/career
readiness frame
• Advantages / drawbacks of co-locating
additional services, including instruction
10
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILIES
NLC Institute for Youth, Education, and
Families
Dropout Re-Engagement Network
• Boston, Massachusetts
Dayton, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Newark, New Jersey
Omaha, Nebraska
Philadelphia, PA
Portland, Oregon
• Quarterly topical phone
calls + yearly meeting
• Several more cities:
Reengagement Centers in
development
• Andrew Moore:
moore@nlc.org for more
information
• Share information via
Dropbox
• Next convening: Dec. 4-6,
Denver, Colorado
• Network supported by
C.S. Mott Foundation
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES - INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILIES
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Destination: Diploma