Drop In, Not Out: A Boston Public School Solution to Decreasing the Drop-Out Rate Presenters: Boston Public Schools Re-Engagement Center & The Boston Private Industry Council October 27, 2011

1,891: Out of School Youth  1,621: 16 and Older, Out of School Youth  270: Under 16, Out of School Youth 700+ Engaged in “15 min.” Conversation at Center  545 Connected to a school or educational options (7/ /2011)  464 Re-enrolled: District, District Alt. Ed., & CBO Alt. Ed.  81 GED & Adult Education  57 Graduated Outreach & Drop-out Recovery SY 10-11

Each year we follow the cohort of students who enrolled between July and October to study retention patterns. 284 Re-enrolled in District, District Alt. Ed., & CBO Alt. Ed. schools between July and October. 65% stick rate  District Schools104  Alternative Education143  Re-Engagement Center8  Graduated29 Outreach & Drop-out Recovery Study Cohort SY 10-11

Qualitative  Established the REC as a venue for disconnected youth  Developed case management and follow-up protocol  Established relationships with schools  Organized the BPS-PIC partnership to maximize REC’s services

Lessons learned from our project can inform district planning; some steps that could help our students and prevent others from dropping out:  Increase alternative options, particularly for those who are overage and under-credited After November it becomes difficult to find placements where students can earn credits for at least part of the school year  Develop transitional or “on-ramp” programming to help returning students catch up  Consider intentional ways to build out credit recovery for returning students  Consider helping traditional high schools develop pathways within their walls

Recommendation: more schools set up to accept students on a rolling admissions basis Recommendation: more schools and programs set up to allow students to catch up on credits at any point in the school year Recommendation: create additional twilight school sessions to meet need of students as they return

Goals and next steps  Document our intake, coaching and case-management practices  Build and document engagement tools to keep students connected as they wait for placements  Enroll a greater proportion of students at or before the beginning of the school year

Goals and next steps  Document the stories of students who succeed and struggle, for both inspiration to others and for continuous improvement  Meet regularly with the Education Options Network to build capacity through better coordination and jointly piloting new programmatic approaches

Engaged: Connected: In-depth conversation about educational options Currently enrolled in an educational option Study Cohort: Diploma Granting Options: Students enrolled between July and October Alternative schools and programs where students are able to obtain a high school diploma District Schools: Traditional comprehensive high schools and pilot schools Colors in graphs: Did not accept district school assignment. BPS ALT ED: Withdrew from educational option Boston Public Alternative Schools : Currently attending educational option Boston Adult Technical Academy(BATA), Boston Day and Graduated from educational option Evening Academy(BDEA), Community Academy(CA), Wanted alternative educational option Greater Egleston(GE), Charlestown Diploma Plus(DP) CBO ALT ED: Community–Based Organizations Alternative Schools: ABCD University High School, City Roots, EDCO Youth Alternative, Notre Dame Education Center REC: Students are assigned to the Re-Engagement Center awaiting placement and/or taking credit recovery classes Disconnected: Out of school youth who have not finish enrolling into an educational option