|
Perspectives in education
|
by Andre Riley |
January 23, 2008 |
School district tries to reach dropouts
A group of volunteers is spearheading a multi-faceted push by the Kansas City School District to bring its dropouts back to the classroom.
In December, the district began a partnership with the NAACP to locate students who have stopped attending school. Volunteers from groups affiliated with the renowned civil rights organization work a bank of phones weekly, following leads and tips that could help locate students no longer on the district’s attendance rolls.
The volunteers made nearly 400 calls in the program’s first month. Preliminary statistics show volunteers made contact with dropouts 35 percent of the time. In all, 15 students either returned to school or indicated a desire to head back to the classroom.
When the volunteers’ efforts are combined with the district’s internal dropout tracking efforts — including calls and visits — KCMSD staff has the tools needed to reach out effectively. Each day a school dropout spends away from the classroom, the chances of a return to education diminish, according to Ed Marquez, KCMSD Director of Pupil Services.
“It’s very important as soon as we make contact that we stay current, that we talk with grandmothers and cousins,” Marquez said. “If we don’t make a connection and lose contact, the student can be anywhere.”
The phone calls from volunteers and KCMSD staff are just the first step in the district’s Dropout Recovery Program. Once students are located, district staff works with the student to identify the best educational route based on age and credit accumulation. The student sometimes has a chance for high school graduation, Marquez said, while in other instances the students are funneled toward GED or other alternative programs.
The results have been promising. During the 2005-2006 school year, approximately 75 percent of students that returned to school stayed for the remainder of the school year.
KCMSD Superintendent Anthony Amato credits those results not only to the recovery program, but to the staff that welcomes the students back.
“It’s important to get as many dropouts back as possible,” Amato said. “Once they’re back, we want to support them with better learning opportunities. With a caring adult, the suspension and expulsion rate for those students goes down.”
The district plans to expand the program further by identifying staff at schools to enhance that welcoming presence, Marquez said. While staff is always welcoming to returning students, the plan is to select teachers, administrators and others who can best relate to students and keep them focused on their educational goals.
Ultimately, the Dropout Recovery Program is about taking responsibility, Marquez said.
“We have to accept responsibility if the students don’t graduate and the student has to accept responsibility for their part,” Marquez said. “There’s responsibility in all facets. If everybody is willing to accept responsibility, it’s not about placing blame. It’s about doing what we can to do better.”
The Kansas City, Missouri School District is committed to retaining students and helping them become lifelong learners.
“We’re far from satisfied. I don’t want any child ever dropping out,” Amato said. “Until we get to zero, we haven’t done our job.”
“No excuses. No exceptions. All students should finish school.”
Interested in Helping?
Are you interested in helping with the Kansas City, Missouri School District’s Dropout Recovery Program? If so, you should attend the program’s training and informational meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the small meeting room on the first floor of the Board of Education building, 1211 McGee St., Kansas City, MO 64106.The hour-long meeting will feature an explanation of the program, a role playing exercise, an explanation of dropout data and phone training.
For more information, call KCMSD Pupil Services at (816) 418-7000.
Andre Riley is a spokesman for the Kansas City School District. Education perspectives takes a look at the district's new education trends and programs. To contact the district call 816-418-7000 or e-mail PublicInfo@kcmsd.net.
2008 Archives:
January Safety a top priority for KC public schools
2007 Archives:
December Lincoln Prep top in the nation in 2008
November Parents Have Power
October Early Reading First
September National Attention on Reform Initiative
July Neighborhood Schools for Everyone
June Year-End Wrap-Up from Head of Schools
May Summer School Starts June 18 , Summer School Is for Everyone & Parent Power Prepares You for College
April Wake Up: It's Time to Take a MAP & Lincoln Goes to Robotics Finals
February See the Stars at Southwest High School
January Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up & College Degrees for District Parents
