Dropout Prevention
West Virginia
Session Overview
I. Statistics
II. Attendance/Dropout Prevention WVDE
Committee
III. Early Warning System
IV. ABC Framework
V. Interventions
VI. WVDE Initiatives
VII. Role of the Attendance Director
What?
 40 years ago the US was #1 in graduation
rates, we are now #18.
 WV graduation rate is 72%, slightly above the
national average.
 37 student’s dropout of WV schools each day.
 Approximately 3500 students have dropped
out in WV each year.
Diplomas Count 2011 Report, Education Week
West Virginia Department of Education 2011
So, What?
Projected continued dropouts
 At this rate, next ten years over 35,000 will drop out of WV
schools.
Economy
 untrained workforce
Cost
 Each class of dropouts cost $55 million in healthcare.
 80% of dropouts end up in prison
 12 millions students who will drop out over the next decade
will cost the nation $3 trillion dollars.
Attendance/Dropout Prevention
WVDE Committee
4 yr Cohort Rate
Guidance Document
Early Warning System
Guidance Document
Table of Contents
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Purpose
View from the Mountain Top
Review of the Literature
Primary Indicators of Dropping Out
Using Data
Early Warning
Course of Action
Best Practices for Dropout Prevention
Research to Support Best Practices
Resources
Early Warning Systems
Purpose
Process not an event
ABC Framework
Attendance
Behavior
Course Performance
At-Risk Students
in West Virginia
Indicator
6th Grade
9th Grade
Attendance
90% or below
85% or below
Behavior
1 or more suspensions
2 or more suspensions
Course Performance
1 or more semester
failures
2 or more semester
failures
English or Math
English or Math
County:
School:
Grade: All Students
Early Warning System
ID
Name
Attendance
Behavior/
Discipline
Course
Performance
12 / 78 =
15.38%
2
2
12/ 78 =
15.38%
2
2
12/ 78 =
15.38%
2
None
10/78 =
12.82%
2
2
12/78 =
15,38%
5/78 =
.06%
2
Last Yr
Attendance
Last Yr
Grade
Failure
Retentions
Interventions
Attendance
Behavior
Course Failure
Have attendance team
investigate and
problem solve
Assign an adult
mentor
Assign Tutoring before,
during and/or after
school
Assign a peer mentor
Carry behavior
Assign to smaller class
checklist from class to size/change
class or do a weekly
levels/change teacher
behavior report
Require a quick daily
check by adult
Develop a behavior
contract
Create individual
motivational/incentive
plan for attendance
Refer for individual or Credit recover
group counseling
opportunities
Create “extra help”
courses in place of
electives or offer block
courses for additional
help
Prevention
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Policies
Incentives
Engaging instruction
Student lead conferences
Student voice and leadership
Culture of attendance
Bullying Prevention
Advisor/advisee program
College Foundation of West Virginia portal (CFWV)
Targeted Intervention
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Home visits
Parent phone calls daily if needed
Parent conferences regularly to report progress
Secure services to alleviate reason (e.g. substance abuse
problem, refer to counseling for substance abuse)
Maintain close contact with attending physicians
Seek out extended family members that can help resolve
the problems
Assign a mentor to check on attendance daily
Assign a peer mentor
Expose students to career development opportunities (e.g.
possible job shadowing or courses in the career
concentration of interest).
Personalized Interventions
• Create an individualized plan for the student
• Refer to social services or other services needed
• Distribute letter to parents after five days of
unexcused absences
• Conduct parent conference and explain
procedures for filing truancy, possible
consequences and collaborate solutions
• Refer case to prosecuting attorney
• Document all absences and interventions
• Monitor daily attendance and report to courts
Monitoring
WVDE Initiatives
1. Frontline Network: Community Dialogue to Action
Education Alliance, WV Center for Civic Life, United Way
2. Judicial Truancy Meetings
Chief Justice Robin Davis and Circuit Court Judge Alan Moats
http://wvde.state.wv.us/player.php?m=x&vid=riseup/videos/truancy1
http://wvde.state.wv.us/player.php?m=x&vid=riseup/videos/truancy2
http://wvde.state.wv.us/player.php?m=x&vid=riseup/videos/truancy3
http://wvde.state.wv.us/player.php?m=x&vid=riseup/videos/truancy4
http://wvde.state.wv.us/player.php?m=x&vid=riseup/videos/truancy5
More Initiatives
3. Common Ground: Education & the Military
Career mentors
4. Innovation Zones
Meaningful Partnerships, Early Warning Systems
Community Dropout Prevention Plan
5. LINKS Student Advisement
6. 2013 Student Success Summit
August, Waterfront Hotel, Morgantown WV
Website Tools
RiseUp WV
http://wvde.state.wv.us/riseup/index.php
Dropout Prevention in WV
http://wvde.state.wv.us/schoolimprovement/
Role of the Attendance Director
Recommendations
Early Warning Systems
 Member of data analysis teams
 Identify and assist in securing interventions
Interventions
 Assist in developing preventive interventions
 Assist to secure Individual and Group interventions
 Referrals for intensive /community services
Monitoring progress
Student Exit Process
 Is it easier to leave your schools, than it is to enter your
schools?
County Contact for Dropout Prevention
For more information contact:
Rebecca Derenge
West Virginia Department of Education
rderenge@access.k12.wv.us
304-558-7805
http://wvde.state.wv.us/schoolimprovement/graduation.html