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Education

High School: Stay In Dropping out of high school: implications and solutions. By Carlin SchneiderPublished: July, 2006

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Dropping out of high school: implications and solutions Few would argue the value of a good education. It has become increasingly impossible to become a contributing member of our economy without at least a high school diploma; a college degree is even better. So why do we continue to see students fall shy of high school graduation? More importantly, what is being done to help these students get back on track for graduation and for the future? A recent study done by the Consortium on Chicago School Research stated that by the time public high school freshmen are in their mid-20s, only six of 100 from that city will have received a bachelor’s degree. Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan reported to the Chicago Tribune that “when students are unprepared for college or the world of work, they are condemned to social failure,” which has spurred an increase in private high school reform. County figures How do Chicago dropouts patterns compare with those in Southern California? According to the California Department of Education’s statistics, the overall dropout rate (a four-year derived rate for grades 9-12) in California is 12.7%.  At the county level, Orange County saw a dropout rate of 5% for the 2004-2005 school year. Some 12.4% of students in Riverside County dropped out over that period and San Bernardino County lost 19.9% of its students. Unfortunately, dropout rates are among the hardest to measure and have consequently been somewhat controversial.  For example, is a dropout a dropout if he later earns an equivalency degree?  The fact that there is no universal tracking system for California students makes it impossible to know if students have dropped out or are just changing districts. Nonetheless, the superintendents of education of Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties are working to maintain and implement programs and policies to  retain their students. Dr. Herbert Fischer, superintendent of education for San Bernardino County, cites a 44% increase in college attendance in the last five years for his students, which sounds promising, except that it is coupled with an increase in the high school dropout rate. Students in the county have had a historically low attainment of bachelor’s degrees. Fischer hopes this can change by graduating more students from high school. One approach is the P16 program, meant for developing strategies at every education level, beginning with preschool, to ensure students finish high school and move on to college. At the high school level, San Bernardino County is heavily involved with AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, which is an academic support program that places scholastically average students in challenging classes to prepare them for college eligibility. Students admitted into the AVID program are generally not college-bound, but according to Fischer, more than 90% of AVID students are admitted into a four- year university. Both Riverside and Orange County students benefit from the AVID program as well. Solution-based A unique educational approach in San Bernardino County is the Alliance for Education where high schools partner with local business, community,  and labor organizations  to “bring relevance into the classroom,” according to Fischer. By including practical business and real life applications, many students have a better chance of grasping the material, and succeeding in their coursework. San Bernardino County school districts emphasize alternative forms of education like alternative high schools and smaller learning communities, which help potential dropouts succeed in graduating. In smaller learning communities, students have a better opportunity for individual attention from teachers as well as a non-threatening learning environment. Fischer also points to the importance of early literacy and success in the high school Exit Exam, which Orange County Superintendent William Habermehl agrees with wholeheartedly. According to Habermehl, most students drop out in grade 11 due to feelings of panic and low self-esteem from failing to pass the Exit Exam, a state graduation requirement that went into effect this June. Habermehl emphasizes the importance of helping students understand their coursework to aid them in passing this exam and stay in school. Orange County schools are attempting to use their resources to identify kids at risk of dropping out earlier in order to place them in alternative programs and on the path to graduation. The Access Program is one such alternative education program that targets students who were expelled, falling behind in their studies, or potential dropouts. Orange County has about 160 sites where students can attend class in a smaller, more personalized environment. This program offers an 85% success rate among students, clearly a valuable alternative to dropping out. But Habermehl cannot deny the importance of early education. If kids struggle their way through elementary school, graduating from high school is likely to be a very big challenge. “If kids can read by the end of third grade, the dropout rate will decrease by 90%,” says Habermehl. To ensure this, elementary and intermediate teachers need to be trained to assess students’ progress. ID the struggler According to Cami Barry, assistant to Riverside County Superintendent David Long, Riverside County school districts value student assistance programs, which identify kids who are struggling and develop strategies to aid the student. Attendance, behavior problems, and low grades are all indicators of a potential dropout. A teacher who picks up on an attendance problem can refer a student to SARB, the Student Attendance Review Board, which is a process of identifying the problem and working with counselors, teachers, parents, and/or administrators to pinpoint the problem and find a solution. Despite discouraging dropout statistics among our students, we can be optimistic that our teachers and administrators are continuing to take this matter seriously and develop innovative programs to encourage the highest possible graduation rates.m Carlin Schneider served as an intern in spring and early summer for Churm Publishing,  Inc.

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