2009 Indian Education SummitDrop Out Prevention

Rapid City, SDSeptember 28, 2009

Presenters

Allan Bertram – Assistant Principal – Chamberlain High School Marc Krogstad – Guidance Counselor –

Chamberlain High School Jeff Steckelberg – Study Assist Coord.

– Chamberlain High School

Why???

Main Reasons why students drop out 1) Life Events – Traumatic Events. 2) Fade Outs – Students who have no

educational backing. 3) Push Outs- Attendance or Behavior

Policy with no alternatives 4) Lack of Success – Students who are

unable to stay at grade level

Key Stats Native American Students nationally have

over a 50% drop out rate. (NDPC) Caucasian Students nationally have a 25%

drop out rate. (NDPC) 85-90% of students who are on track

entering 10th grade nationally will graduate from high school. (NDPC)

The key is keeping students on track educationally.

What we do wrong

We focus to much on what we teach and not on what the students have actually learned.

We spend to much time making excuses for why the students cannot learn instead of focusing our energy on how we are going to do the best possible job with what we have.

Questions to ask What is it we expect our students to

learn? How will we know if our students are

learning? How will we respond when student’s

don’t learn? How will we respond when students

have learned? (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, and Many, 2006)

Where we are at CHS Drop Out Situation 2008-2009 = 10 2007-2008 = 11 2006-2007 = 4 2005-2006 = 7 2004-2005 = 5 Total Students in last 5 years = 37 Last two years District has lost $97,860 We had to do something.

Chamberlain High School

294 Students 101 Native American Students 37% of our student population is

Native American.

Process Formed a Drop Out Prevention Committee – August of

2008. Looked at current programs and initiatives that were

supporting At-Risk Students. Looked at current programs and initiatives that were

not supporting At-Risk Students. Professional Development

Attended National Native American Drop Out Prevention Conference – Phoenix, AZ 2009

State Level Drop Out Prevention Workshop – Sioux Falls, SD 2008

152 Ways to Keep Students in School – Schlargel 2008

Webinars, Journals and Publications, etc.

CSD 7-1 Drop Out Prevention Plan

Met One time per month. Looked at new initiatives and

programs that could be installed to help out the drop out situation.

Overall Plan is a guide to what we currently do in our district for At-Risk students.

CSD Drop Out Plan

Where we were at Spring 2003 27% of Native American students

tested were Advanced/Proficient in Math

45% of Native American students tested were Advanced/Proficient in Reading.

Native American subgroup did not make AYP.

Where we are now

Spring 2008 67% of Native American students

tested were Advanced/Proficient in Math

80% of Native American students tested were Advanced/Proficient in Reading.

Native American subgroup made AYP.

Tools for At-Risk Students

Study Assist Program Student on the Rise Program Teacher Mentor Program Advisor/Advisee Saturday School

Study Assist

3 Different Formats 1) Study Assist Class 2) Study Assist Pull-Out Program 3) Study Assist Class Transfer

Program.

Study Assist Class The purpose of this course is to provide an

environment of support for students that struggle to meet the expectations of CHS classes as well as state standards. Students will thus be able to:

Pass classes Remain in school and graduate from CHS Become eligible for athletics and activities

Overview Offered 7 Class Periods per day. 1 Certified Staff Member and 1

Classified Staff Member for each class Period.

12 Student Maximum for each Period Daily Rubric is used for grading

purposes. Half Credit per semester can be

earned toward graduation status.

Study Assist

Separate Classroom in place – Students really make this their place.

Students placed at beginning of year by: Teacher Recommendation Behind in Credits History of poor attendance Grade History

SA Resources

Rubric Teacher Roster Class Roster Overall Information Agenda

What are the evaluation procedures of the program? Student grade point average will be

reviewed Student percent of classes passed will be

reviewed Student grades will be compared to prior

semesters before enrolling in the Study Assist program

Attendance of those students participating in the program will be compared against the previous completed grading period prior to their enrollment

Results

Grade Point Average 2nd Semester 2007 (before Study Assist)

1.15 1st Semester 2008

1.95

Results continued Before Study Assist

64% Classes Passed by Students who were put into study Assist.

2007- 2008 First Semester 87% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students

2007- 2008 Second Semester 88% Classes Passed by Study Assist

Students 2008- 2009 First Semester

92% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students 2008- 2009 Second Semester

91% Classes Passed by Study Assist Students

Results continued Why has the program worked?

Why do the rich get richer? Success builds Confidence Students who lack confidence: will not take risks,

feel hopeless, stop learning If our students go off, they have two

choices- up or down. If they fly it is on the wings of confidence.

Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew. –Guillaume Apollinaire

Study Assist Pull-Out Program Grade Check each Friday. All students failing multiple courses. Pulled out of regular courses on certain

days. Placed in actual Study Assist Classroom.

Study Assist Teacher given info on what classes they are to focus on.

Focus on Getting Worked Caught Up. SA Pull-Out

Study Assist Class Transfer 1st Semester 2008-09 Purpose: To utilize existing class periods, where

students have no opportunity to pass the class, for working on classes that the student has the ability to pass and retain credit.

A total of 8 students were put in Study Assist extra class periods where they had no opportunity of passing with a result of 16 classes being passed out of a possible 22. This transfers into a total of 8 credits being earned. 

  62 Students were in the pull out program during the 2nd semester of 2008-2009

Class Transfer

Student on the Rise Each Month Teachers nominate students

who they feel have done outstanding work. (In or out of the classroom)

Target students who normally don’t get recognition.

A picture and the write-up about the student is placed on the board.

Info sent to Newspaper & Put on our Website.

Student on the Rise

Teacher Mentor Program Students Identified at the Beginning

of the school year. Grades Social Issues Home life issues Staff choose up to two students they

would like to mentor from the list. Meet one time each week- Focus on grades, choices, and life

happenings.

Advisor/Advisee

Meet Every Friday During the School Year.

Follow same group of students all four years of school

Agenda set by the Drop Out Prevention Committee.

Sent to Staff three days prior to the meeting time.

Advisor/Advisee

Advisement on: Grades, Credits, Academic Goals, Career Choices(Career Cruising)

Advisor-Advisee2.doc

Saturday School

Meet one Saturday per month. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Allows students to buy back one

missed absence from school. Gives students 5 hours of time to

focus on getting caught up on school work.

Saturday School

Minimum of 1 Certified Staff. Volunteer Basis this year. Students are chosen based on

attendance points & grades. Set Criteria, Rules, and Expectations.

Think About

Attempt to be Pro-Active rather than Re-Active.

“Not greeting your students everyday may be one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make” – Annette Breaux

Resources

Learning by doing: A handbook for professional learning communities. Dufour, Dufour, Eaker, Many (2006)

152 Ways to Keep Students in School Fanklin Schlargel (2008)

101 Answers for new teachers and their mentors. Annette Breaux (2003)

Contact Information Allan Bertram – 234-4467

Allan.bertram@k12.sd.us http://abertram.wikispaces.com/

Marc Krogstad – 234-4467 marc.krogstad@k12.sd.us

Jeff Steckelberg – 234-4467 Jeff.steckelberg@k12.sd.us