dropout solutions

Washington County Public Schools presented some dismaying news last week.

The Hagerstown, Md., school district’s dropout rate has increased for the past two years. In the 2009-10 year, the rate was 1.56 percent. That inched up to 1.80 in 2010-11 and then hitting 1.93 percent last school year, according to The Herald Mail.

It should be noted these numbers are down from the 5.5 percent rate in 2000, but seeing an increase in the dropout rate — even a small one — can be discouraging.

Donna Hanlin, assistant superintendent for curriculum, school administration and improvement, said part of the reason for the increase in dropouts was because of a more transient school population.

Research has shown that a transient student population does have negative impacts on student achievement  and the classroom environment.

District officials said they are considering an alternate high school to help these students earn their diplomas.

In this post, our first installment of a weekly feature called Research Wednesday, we’d like to share with you a study that shows that programs intended to help transient students only succeed when they address the underlying issues students are facing.

A goal of zero dropouts? Is this really possible?

Yes!

And Boulder Valley School District seems to be on that path — tracking students, offering support groups, and then — if necessary — offering online or alterative schooling and dropout recovery programs.

It's all about "reaching out," says Boulder High Principal Kevin Braney.

For high school dropouts motivated to get back in the classroom and those at risk for dropping out, a new program starting next month will enable students to earn their high school degrees and college credit at the same time.

USC has been tackling a huge problem.

And no, we're not talking about University of Oregon running back LaMichael James (who managed just 78 yards against the Trojans during USC's 38-35 upset over the Ducks last month.)   

This problem's even bigger. Even stronger. And if you don't get ahold of it right away, it will slip away faster than James ever could.

The Nehemiah of the Hebrew Bible mobilized the citizens of Jerusalem to rebuild the ruined city walls.

His equivalent today might be Rev. Fred Thelen, pastor at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Lansing, Mich.

Thelen is part of a coalition of church leaders who hope to galvanize community support to rebuild Michigan, brick by brick…

… or maybe student by student.

  Nine in 10 students who drop out of high school couldn’t read in the third grade.

  Does the solution to America’s dropout epidemic seem obvious all of the sudden?

Conservative scholars and candidates have continually missed opportunities to offer constructive low-cost solutions to the high school dropout epidemic, James Marshall Crotty reports for Forbes.com.

This was especially true at last night’s GOP presidential debate on the economy and jobs at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where a review of the transcript reveals that the words “education,” “dropouts” and “learning” were not mentioned once.