Follow The Child, High School Redesign, & Senate Bill 18

First Off, Resource Materials! New Hampshire’s Vision for Redesign: Moving From High Schools to Learning Communities New Hampshire’s Vision for Redesign: Moving From High Schools to Learning Communities Senate Bill 18 ~ Raising the Compulsory Age of Public Education in NH from 16 to 18 Senate Bill 18 ~ Raising the Compulsory Age of Public Education in NH from 16 to 18

Follow The Child Commissioner Lyonel Tracy’s initiative to follow the personal, personal, social, social, physical and physical and academic academic needs of each NH student, pre-K through high school graduation.

FTC: The Commissioner is looking for ~ A FEW GOOD ~ DISTRICTS DISTRICTS SCHOOLS SCHOOLS TEACHERS TEACHERS To be Follow The Child Leaders… To be Follow The Child Leaders… (we’ll get back to what this means for HS dropouts in a couple minutes!) (we’ll get back to what this means for HS dropouts in a couple minutes!)

Three Underlying Principles of New Hampshire’s Vision of HS Redesign Personalization Personalization Active Learning Active Learning Choices and Flexibility Choices and Flexibility

High School Redesign (with respect to Dropout Prevention!) The following broad frameworks and initiatives are on- going to address students at risk of dropping out as a larger strategy to make NH High Schools more appealing and effective in addressing 21st Century learning needs: Follow The Child Follow The Child New Hampshire’s Vision for Redesign: Moving from High Schools to Learning Communities New Hampshire’s Vision for Redesign: Moving from High Schools to Learning Communities Apex II Apex II Statewide Literacy Plan Statewide Literacy Plan Statewide Numeracy Plan Statewide Numeracy Plan Extended Learning Opportunities Extended Learning Opportunities Time flexibility Time flexibility School Improvement Efforts School Improvement Efforts

Pyramid of Service Based on Need, (DuFour & DuFour) Improving education for all kids: HS Redesign, APEX II, Raising the compulsory age of education, Literacy Programs, etc. In-School Programs for kids at risk: NHJAG, Special Education, etc. Out-of-School Programs: Adult High School, GED Prep., etc. Out of District Placement

Readin’, Ritin’, & Rithmatic! Statewide Literacy Plan ~ Statewide Literacy Plan ~ toolkit on adolescent literacy strategies to support school districts to focus on literacy across the academic disciplines. toolkit on adolescent literacy strategies to support school districts to focus on literacy across the academic disciplines. Rolled out at the Follow The Child State-wide Forum next week in Nashua. Rolled out at the Follow The Child State-wide Forum next week in Nashua. Over 300 school district personnel in attendance. Over 300 school district personnel in attendance. Statewide Numeracy Plan ~ to be developed next year in a parallel process to the Literacy Plan completed this year. Statewide Numeracy Plan ~ to be developed next year in a parallel process to the Literacy Plan completed this year.

Extended Learning Opportunities A voluntary section of the State School Approval Rules A voluntary section of the State School Approval Rules Allows students to earn credit towards graduation outside of traditional classrooms Allows students to earn credit towards graduation outside of traditional classrooms Requires Qualified Educator Oversight Requires Qualified Educator Oversight Underpins the language of SB 18 Underpins the language of SB 18

Time Flexibility The school approval rules also contain a requirement that all high school courses be measured by the mastery of course level competencies as a means to earn credit towards graduation. This rule will allow schools and students to be more flexible with time regarding the completion of these courses. This, in turn, will allow for the use of after school, out of school, and summer school programs and credit recovery efforts to support credit attainment for struggling students.

School Improvement Efforts The DOE is providing a variety of supports to schools in need of improvement, using both federal, state, and private resources, that will assist schools to implement ideas and strategies discussed in the High School Vision document. For Example:  Apex II!  Response to Intervention (RTI) efforts and resources  Transition Community of Practice (Special Ed and VR)  A cadre of distinguished educators in English Language Arts and Mathematics have been contracted to provide direct, on- site assistance through this program.  CACES has developed a Competency Assessment Model that it is piloting with districts across the state.  Grant Application for pilot to support school districts in the use of Follow The Child Principles, ELOs, & Competency Assessment in alternative settings.

Senate Bill 18 Compulsory Attendance raised from 16 to 18 Compulsory Attendance raised from 16 to 18 Exemptions: Exemptions: Home Education Home Education GED Certificate GED Certificate Graduate Graduate Private School Private School Waiver from Superintendent: Waiver from Superintendent: Alternative Learning Plan in place or Alternative Learning Plan in place or Excused from school due to physical or mental challenge, or Excused from school due to physical or mental challenge, or due to mutual agreement between parent and school authorities due to mutual agreement between parent and school authorities

Alternative Learning Plans Age appropriate academic rigor Age appropriate academic rigor May be made up of Extended Learning Opportunities May be made up of Extended Learning Opportunities Developed by pupil, guidance counselor, principal, and parent Developed by pupil, guidance counselor, principal, and parent Approved by Superintendent Approved by Superintendent May be appealed to the Local and State Board of Education May be appealed to the Local and State Board of Education

Additional Pieces to the Puzzle Data System: Plans are being formulated to develop a data system that will record the personalized learning plans of at-risk students so that the state can “follow each child” at risk of dropping out directly. The department has already developed the SASID system that identifies students individually while maintaining their confidentiality at the state and local level. Data System: Plans are being formulated to develop a data system that will record the personalized learning plans of at-risk students so that the state can “follow each child” at risk of dropping out directly. The department has already developed the SASID system that identifies students individually while maintaining their confidentiality at the state and local level. Three Technical Advisories just released: Three Technical Advisories just released: Pathways to High School Graduation, Pathways to High School Graduation, Offsite (alternative) Programs, and Offsite (alternative) Programs, and Student Accounting: Coding for High School Graduation Student Accounting: Coding for High School Graduation

GED Completers The department is also exploring the option of designating GED completers as “high school completers” rather than drop outs, in order to have a more specific state record of student success. Task force members have been exploring a national program entitled “GED Options” where schools are allowed to keep GED preparers and test takers enrolled in day high school and therefore schools will not be required to count these students as dropouts. The department is also exploring the option of designating GED completers as “high school completers” rather than drop outs, in order to have a more specific state record of student success. Task force members have been exploring a national program entitled “GED Options” where schools are allowed to keep GED preparers and test takers enrolled in day high school and therefore schools will not be required to count these students as dropouts.

$2.1 Million for Dropout Prevention Six Person State Dropout Prevention and Recovery Council oversees these monies Six Person State Dropout Prevention and Recovery Council oversees these monies RFP for new programs was released July 1, 2007 to address alternative programming needs and interventions in high schools. RFP for new programs was released July 1, 2007 to address alternative programming needs and interventions in high schools. Districts were found to have a wide range of needs for at risk students. Districts were found to have a wide range of needs for at risk students. Technical Conference will be held on August 23 at the NHTI Auditorium Technical Conference will be held on August 23 at the NHTI Auditorium Time Line for the RFP: 8/23/07: 9-3:30; TA Conference, NHTI 8/23/07: 9-3:30; TA Conference, NHTI 9/7/07 Submission of written questions pertaining to RFP 9/7/07 Submission of written questions pertaining to RFP 9/l4/07 Posting of responses to DOE website 9/l4/07 Posting of responses to DOE website 10/l/07 Deadline for Receipt of RFP 10/l/07 Deadline for Receipt of RFP 10/2 – l9/07 Review of Proposals, scoring, and funding decisions 10/2 – l9/07 Review of Proposals, scoring, and funding decisions 10/l9-30/07 Anticipated contract negotiations 10/l9-30/07 Anticipated contract negotiations Nov. – Dec., 2007 AG & Governor and Council Review Nov. – Dec., 2007 AG & Governor and Council Review January l, 2008 Awards! January l, 2008 Awards!

Additional Monies Adult Ed RFP ~ Twenty-three Adult High School Grants have been approved. This includes three new sites that will be in Sanborn Regional, Kennett, and Lisbon High Schools. ($500,000) Adult Ed RFP ~ Twenty-three Adult High School Grants have been approved. This includes three new sites that will be in Sanborn Regional, Kennett, and Lisbon High Schools. ($500,000) Special Education Adult HS funding ~ Monies will be released based on numbers of students in Adult High Schools needing special services, based on dropouts who are/were coded Special Education. ($1.5 million) Special Education Adult HS funding ~ Monies will be released based on numbers of students in Adult High Schools needing special services, based on dropouts who are/were coded Special Education. ($1.5 million) Expanded Tuition & Transportation funding ~ Amendments were made to Tuition and Transportation monies to expand the coverage of T&T to include not only Career & Technical Education programming, but also Adult High School and Alternative programs. Programs that would not be eligible for this funding are private and parochial schools. Students identified as at risk will now be able to attend Alternative Programs that allow for a variety of educational options that lead to graduation at regional centers, or at locations determined by the district. A guidance document on this expanded funding will be released shortly. ($900,000) Expanded Tuition & Transportation funding ~ Amendments were made to Tuition and Transportation monies to expand the coverage of T&T to include not only Career & Technical Education programming, but also Adult High School and Alternative programs. Programs that would not be eligible for this funding are private and parochial schools. Students identified as at risk will now be able to attend Alternative Programs that allow for a variety of educational options that lead to graduation at regional centers, or at locations determined by the district. A guidance document on this expanded funding will be released shortly. ($900,000)

Follow The Child for the NHDOE! Looking at all kids at risk of dropping out… Looking at all kids at risk of dropping out… Last year ( ) Final counts are NOT in (likely to be > 2,129) Last year ( ) Final counts are NOT in (likely to be > 2,129) year olds (effected by SB 18) = year olds (effected by SB 18) = Apex II HS = Apex II HS = 282 Or 34.5% Or 34.5% Berlin3 Kennett19 Woodsville2 Manchester Central 70 Manchester Memorial 48 Nashua North 34 Nashua South 36 Raymond11 Spaulding47 Somersworth12 Total (of 816 or 34..5%) 282

Longer Term Initiatives Legislation ~ Legislation ~ Follow The Child Coordinator in every district Follow The Child Coordinator in every district Amend Truancy Laws Amend Truancy Laws Expansion of SASID to Higher Education and Workforce Expansion of SASID to Higher Education and Workforce State Diploma System State Diploma System Address HHS and Corrections services to better support students at risk: Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Community Mental Health Services, DCYS, YDC, Juvenile Justice Address HHS and Corrections services to better support students at risk: Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Community Mental Health Services, DCYS, YDC, Juvenile Justice