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> Special Sections > Special Features > AREA SCHOOLS REPORT DROPOUT PREVENTION
AREA SCHOOLS REPORT DROPOUT PREVENTIONLegislators consider new bill to aid school districts
By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
As school administrators throughout the Commonwealth attempt to decrease high school dropout rates, legislators on Beacon Hill are considering a new bill to aid school districts in their fight to keep students in the classroom.
Last month, the State Senate unanimously endorsed Senate Bill 2766, An Act to Improve Dropout Prevention and Reporting of Graduation Rates.
If passed, the bill would establish a Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission, set goals for reducing the dropout rate and could also create a Dropout Prevention and Recovery Grant Program. The bill would also require districts with dropout rates higher than four percent the statewide average is 3.8 percent to develop an action plan for reducing the dropout rate.
However, many school districts in the Pioneer Valley have already taken proactive steps to increase high school retention rates. Those interviewed by Reminder Publications said the bill would certainly help their existing efforts to increase graduation rates.
Jason Gilmartin, dean of students at West Springfield High School, and also in charge of the school's Dropout Prevention Task Force, explained that administrators have labored for the past year to create a working dropout prevention plan. He noted that this plan was in light of the district's elevated dropout rate of 6.2 percent.
Gilmartin explained that for the past year teachers, faculty and staff at the high school have worked within the dropout prevention model in order to better identify "at-risk" students and to also individualize their education.
He explained that when a student exhibits an at-risk behavior, it is written up in a referral to the counseling office as low, moderate or high risk. Low risk behaviors include sleeping during class or refusing to complete homework; moderate risk behaviors include passive defiance or refusing to participate in classroom work; high risk behaviors include being openly defiant, pregnancy, chronic absenteeism or vocalizing the intention to dropout.
Gilmartin explained that once a student's behavior is documented he or she meets with one of the school's eight counselors to speak about their actions. He said the process is treated as a discussion and not a lecture on the importance of staying and excelling in school. Gilmartin noted, however, that counselors explain how dropping out will "close doors for future success."
"We like to be proactive as much as possible," he said. "Part of the [dropout prevention] program is allowing them [the students] to voice [their frustrations] not just about dropping out."
Westfield High School Principal Raymond Broderick said that the Westfield Public School District has also taken a proactive approach to dropout prevention with the formation of their own task force. He explained that as co-chair of the task force he has worked to create a "dropout profile" in order to help faculty and staff to better identify at-risk students.
The Westfield High School dropout rate for the 2006-07 school year was 4.3 percent, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Broderick said the goal of the district is not only to reduce the dropout rate but also identify the major factors contributing to the elevated rate. He noted that a major factor already identified is credit loss and recovery. Broderick explained that many students are discouraged when falling behind and see few options to regain lost credit such as attending a Twilight Program.
"They're [the students] are looking for a reason to invest time in school," he said. "I think that we can show them that the minimum [reward] would be a diploma and the doors would open [wider] as opposed to a GED."
Broderick said that any additional state monies as a result of Senate Bill 2766 that would aid the district in establishing a Twilight Program or any other preventative measures in the way of dropout prevention would be seriously considered.
Agawam High School Principal Steven Lemanski said that Agawam Public Schools have also taken proactive steps in the way of dropout prevention including a new program beginning this fall. He explained that at-risk students will be a part of a class one period per day which will offer them counseling and help them to build stronger connections to school.
Broderick said the district has also adopted a stronger attendance policy which will allow no more than 10 unexcused absences per year. He explained that if a student has more than 10 they will lose credit for the entire year.
"The No Child Left Behind Act states that students must be in school 93 percent of the time," Broderick said. "Kids and parents need to get the message in Agawam that kids need to be in school."
He noted that implemented dropout prevention strategies have decreased Agawam High School's dropout rate from 4.3 percent during the 2006-07 school year to 1.31 percent this year.
Andrew Charko, assistant principal at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School said that believes that the school's commitment to providing a "safe supportive, respectful environment" for every student is what has contributed to the schools 82 percent graduation rate the state average is 80.9 percent.
Gilmartin noted, however, that increasing pressures inside and outside of the classroom such as high-stakes testing or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, are also contributing to elevated dropout rates.
The bill is currently being considered by the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.
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