Why does it matter?
Learners drop out of school for a multitude of reasons. Some are out of educators’ control, but there are a number of reasons students drop out of high school where educators have power to make an impact. The YouthTruth Survey question “Have you ever seriously considered dropping out of high school?” can help educators uncover what is causing students to consider dropping out so that they can intervene before it’s too late.
Late-Night Learning: Alternative Scheduling for the School Day
Edutopia captures the story of what happens when high school in Las Vegas began catering to students with full-time day jobs and other responsibilities. Watch the video to learn about the impact of alternative scheduling like late-night learning.
Advancing Student Success By Reducing Chronic Absence
Eight million students were chronically absent in the 2015-16 school year. What’s more, we know that students living in poverty are more likely to be chronically absent. Attendance Works breaks down the latest reporting, legislation, and news by state so that you can learn about chronic absenteeism in context.
⇒ Explore why chronic absence matters
Research & Tools on Dropout Prevention from the NEA
The National Education Association (NEA) is committed to advancing the cause of public education. The NEA is 3 million strong, with members working at every level of education. Here’s some of their latest resources and research designed to help educators help students graduate from high school.
- America’s Promise Alliance: Captures the latest data, state trends, and advocacy efforts related to increasing graduation rates.
- Association for Middle Level Education: Provides targeted information and resources for middle grades instruction and advocacy.
- Attendance Works: Provides tools, technical assistance contacts, and advocacy documents related to chronic absenteeism.
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Prepares reports on state-by-state spending per-pupil. Data is searchable and users may sign up for policy alerts.
- Children’s Defense Fund: Releases annual figures on the conditions of incarcerated youth. (
PDF, 2.6 MB, 91 pgs.) - Family School Community Partnerships 2.0 ( PDF, 7.0 MB, 81 pg.): Compiles strategies and examples of collaborations and interventions that have improved family engagement and student achievement.
- GPS Indicators: Provides a research-based framework to assess and build advocacy around seven criteria that affect student success. Resources include one-pagers for each criteria and related family and community brochures.
- National Center for Education Statistics: Compiles national data on elementary and secondary schools, including annual reporting of on-time graduation rates. Topic searches are available.
- Restorative Justice Toolkit: ( PDF, 1.6 MB, 16 pgs.): Offers a compilation of resources and strategies to foster positive discipline measures to reduce the need for suspensions, expulsions, and referrals.
- Dropout Data: 2007 – 2010
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