Introducing a new tool to keep kids in school

The Kentucky Department of Education’s mission is to prepare all Kentucky students for next-generation learning, work, and citizenship by engaging schools, districts, families, and communities through excellent leadership, service, and support.

 The vision of the Kentucky Board of Education is to ensure that all students reach proficiency and graduate from high school ready for college and careers. The board’s vision is informed by a changing economy that requires P-12 schools to prepare students for a more complex and competitive workplace.  You can access the CCR plan at: bd57-393b87803ee2/0/ccrdeliveryplan.pdf

1. To increase the percentage of students who are college and career ready from 34 percent (16,320 students) to 67 percent (32,160 students) by To increase the Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR)from 76 percent (36,480 students) to 90 percent (43,200 students) by A959F1157B9/0/GraduationRateTrajectoryDetail.pdf

 Districts and schools have access to the Persistence to Graduation Tool (PtGT), an early warning indicator system for identifying students who may be off-track to graduate.  KDE developed an Evidence-Based Practices Toolkit – a repository of best practices, with interventions, and appropriate responses to the risk behaviors identified in the PtGT (posted on KDE website June 2012).

 The Persistence to Graduation Tool is an early warning system for identifying students who may be “off track” for graduation. It can help find students that may “falling through the cracks”.  It is imbedded in Kentucky’s student information system, Infinite Campus (IC), and provides critical student-level data to identify specific students in need of additional intervention or support.

This is determined by district IC access rights, but may include:  Directors of Pupil Personnel (DPP’s)  District level dropout prevention staff  Building level principals, counselors, and staff (by district preference)

 It creates a report that provides a complete ranked list of all students, based on the weighting of dropout indicators, with the students at highest risk will appearing at the top of the list.  Districts have the capability to save the report in excel format to customize results.  The PtGT can be run multiple times per year.

 Truancy – (excused or unexcused absences)  absent 6-9 days = 1 pt.  absent more than 9 days = 2pts.  Retained in the last two years = 1 pt.  Migrant, LEP, homeless = 1 pt. ea.  Gender – male = 1 pt.  Age – 2 years older/younger than expected = 1 pt.  Behavior – expulsion = 1 pt.

 Academics: Failing grades in the last 2 years:  >10% = 1 point  >15% = 2 points  >25% = 3 points  >35% = 4 points  >45% = 5 points  >55% = 6 points

 Disability: IEP/Learning or Emotional Disturbance  Low Socio-economic Status (SES)  Behavior – out-of-school suspensions

School Name Risk ValueFailing Grades Count Absent Days Grades Retained ExpulsionsGenderCredits Attempted Enrolled Grade IEP High School M29.512N High School M29.512N High School M2612Y High School M15.511N High School M16.511N Sample report

 It is the responsibility of the school to determine the necessary and appropriate supports and interventions for their students who may be off-track for graduation.  The school should provide targeted interventions by aligning the needs of the student with the strategies that have the greatest potential to support the student.

 KDE has created the Persistence to Graduation Evidence Based Practices (EBP)Toolkit to help schools and districts identify and implement proven successful strategies and interventions to keep students in school and moving toward graduation.  The EBP Toolkit provides resources to help identify appropriate strategies and/or interventions with live links to access them.

The Evidence-Based Practices Toolkit is free and available to everyone with internet access, and found on KDE’s College and Career Readiness page at: for+all/persistence+to+graduation+toolkit.htm for+all/persistence+to+graduation+toolkit.htm

 Model evidence-based programs identified for the specific PtGT indicators  Evidence-based interventions identified for the specific PtGT indicators  Frequently Asked Questions about PtGT (FAQ’s)  Resource links and training aids  KDE contact information for assistance

 You are sent to a page of specific “Model Evidence-Based Programs and Evidence-Based Interventions” identified for that specific PtGT indicator.  This list is compiled from the Model Programs Database on the National Dropout Prevention Center website:

 The Model Programs Database on the National Dropout Prevention Center website  The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center’s (NSTAAC)  KDE’s College and Career Readiness Delivery Plan  The National Dropout Prevention Center’s 15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention  The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center’s (NSTAAC) “List of Predictors for In-School and Post-School Success”

 KDE’s training Webinar: “Using the Persistence to Graduation Tool”(August 3, 2011): e024f0b16a/0/thepersistencetograduationtool.pdf e024f0b16a/0/thepersistencetograduationtool.pdf  KDE’s training Webinar “Using the Persistence to Graduation Evidence-Based Practices Toolkit”(July 5, 2012): (link to be inserted after recording)  KDE’s “Using the PtGT” and “Evidence-Based Practices Toolkit” PowerPoint presentations from the two above webinars

FOR MORE INFORMATION KDE Contacts: Libby Taylor (502) or April Pieper (502)