Presentation V

A Discussion with School

Boards:

Raising the Graduation

Rate, High School

Improvement, and Policy

Decisions

Presentation V

Goals for Presentations

• Present information on the Virginia Graduation Rate

• Review the Standards of Accreditation requirements

concerning the Graduation and Completion Index and

accreditation for 2011-2012 and beyond

• Review a comprehensive, systematic process for high school

improvement through the Eight Elements of High School

Improvement

• Present information on the Virginia Early Warning System Tool

and Guide

• Promote discussion on policy issues affecting high school

improvement efforts

Presentation V

Personnel

• How do personnel policies affect student access to challenging curriculum and instruction?

• Are teacher assessments effectively improving instruction?

• Do our policies develop teacher leaders and empower them to make meaningful contributions?

• Is collaboration across classrooms, disciplines, and schools encouraged to support student success from grades K-12 and beyond?

Other policy concerns:

1.

2.

Presentation V

Student Services

• Are there policies that provide support for students to succeed? Are there policies that push students out of school?

• Do our policies create a systematic way to identify students in need of additional non-instructional services and support?

• Do our policies support tiered interventions for problems such as substance abuse, mental health, violence prevention, and others?

• Do our grading and grade promotion policies allow students to recover from poor performance?

Other policy concerns:

1.

2.

• Are our policies related to curriculum designed to exceed minimum standards?

• Do our processes and procedures encourage creative solutions? For example, do we offer programs (online, night school, etc.) for students who need to earn just a few credits in order to graduate?

• Do we connect academic programs and career and technical education to bring more relevance to learning?

• Do our policies support access to challenging curriculum and instruction for all students, including those with special needs?

Presentation V

Curriculum and Instruction

Other policy concerns:

1.

2.

Presentation V

Physical Services

• Is the school environment conducive to helping students master challenging curriculum?

• Do our policies encourage maximum utilization of all our facilities?

• Do policies related to fiscal management and physical facilities support necessary maintenance for the life of facilities and equipment?

• Have our policies and stakeholder engagement practices encouraged community support for our facilities?Other policy concerns:

1.

2.

Presentation V

School Climate

• Do we have a shared vision and plan for promoting,

enhancing, and sustaining a positive school climate?

• Do we have policies to specifically promote: a) the

development and sustainability of social, emotional, ethical,

civic and intellectual skills and engagement; b) a

comprehensive system to address barriers to learning and

re-engage students who have become disengaged?

Presentation V

School Climate (cont.)

• Do our policies and practices create an environment where all members are welcomed, supported, and feel safe in school socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically?

• Have we developed meaningful and engaging practices, activities and norms that promote social and civic responsibilities and a commitment to social justice?

Presentation V

Next Steps

QUESTIONS

Resources and Links

1. Grad Nation: A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle the Dropout Crisis (America’s Promise Alliance, February 2009) http://www.every1graduates.org/PDFs/GradNation_Guidebook_Final.pdf

2. The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts

http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf

3. Council on Virginia’s Future: The High Cost of Low Educational Attainment http://www.future.virginia.gov/docs/IssueInsights/Insight1.pdf

Presentation V

Resources and Links

4. Virginia Department of Education Statistics & Reports: Graduation, Completion & Dropout Data: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/graduation_ completion/index.shtml

5. Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework; The National High School Center http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSCEightElements7-25-08.pdf

6. The Mid-Atlantic Equity Center at The George Washington University Center for Equity and Excellence in Education

Web site: http://maec.ceee.gwu.edu

E-mail: donna.carr@edvantia.org