1. Don’t Let Them Go Without a Fight How the Migrant Program Works to Prevent Dropouts Sarah Seamount Migrant Education Program Coordinator Vickie McCullough Idaho Connects Online Head of School

2. Objectives
Participant will understand special risks to dropping out faced by migrant students.
Participant will have strategies to prevent students from leaving school.
If students do leave, participants will have strategies for helping students pursue some form of continuing education.

3. Idaho Graduation Rates

4. 2017-2018 Idaho Graduation Rates
Population
Rate
Not Economically Disadvantaged
90.5%
Asian
85.7%
Students of Military Families
84.6%
Female
83.2%
Students without Disabilities
83.0%
White
82.3%
Students who are not Homeless
81.9%
Not Hispanic or Latino
81.6%
Not English Learners
81.2%
Not American Indian or Alaskan Native
80.9%
Not Black / African American
80.8%
Not Two Or More Races
Non-Migratory Students
Not Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
80.7%
Students not in Foster Care
All Students
80.6%
Population
Rate
Not Asian
80.6%
Students of Non-Military Families
Male
78.3%
Hispanic or Latino
75.9%
English Learners
75.5%
Not White
75.2%
Two Or More Races
73.8%
Economically Disadvantaged
72.3%
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
71.7%
Black / African American
71.4%
Migratory Students
69.9%
American Indian or Alaskan Native
60.7%
Students with Disabilities
58.5%
Students who are Homeless
58.4%
Students in Foster Care
47.3%

5. Research on Latino Dropouts in Idaho
In , an Idaho principal did a study on Latino dropouts in the Magic Valley.
She studied 9 dropouts: 5 female, 4 male who dropped out from years old from three different districts.

6. Consider the following questions while discussing one or more of the quotes with a partner.
What is similar/different from my school or district?
How do we combat these situations?
What internal or external obstacles do we face?

7. What to do?
When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout? NO

8. Attack When the Problem Starts
Elementary School: Establish relationships with parents early. Reinforce the benefits of their inclusion in the school world of their child. Connect with kids. Do home visits. Middle School: Establish clubs for these students that meet during breakfast or lunch and address student feelings of inadequacy and the negative effects of stereotyping. Bring in speakers and maybe visit a local university or college. Find insistent, caring staff to form relationships with kids.

9. Keeping Them Engaged in High School
Migrant Graduation Specialists
Check & Connect
Parent outreach
Credit recovery

10. Idaho Connects Online (ICON)
The students who succeed are those whose liaisons are fully involved: checking the student’s time logged in, assignments turned in, grades on assessments and communicating with students and parents.
To facilitate a migrant student’s enrollment, call or Vickie McCullough at or

11. What can a virtual school do for my kids?
Offer a fully accredited school option so that credits are transferrable
Offer an option for students that cannot school during typical school hours or timeframe with 24/7 online school access (including summer options)
Offer an option for students that cannot attend their traditional school while in Mexico or on medical leave

12. Questions to Ask Virtual Schools as You Seek Support
Do you have flexible enrollment?
What is the process for coming to the school?
Do you provide technology?
Can the content be read to the students in their native language?
Can you give me access to view their accounts so that I can support them while they are with you?
Do you offer dual enrollment?
Do you offer a full time option for those that need it?
Do you offer an option for virtual courses that we can pay for?

13. What if all efforts fail?
Flow chart
Exit interviews
Options for Success

14. Questions? Sarah Seamount | Migrant Education Program Coordinator Idaho State Department of Education 650 W State Street, Boise, ID

15. Idaho Dropout Study
Hondo, C., Gardiner, M. E., & Sapien, Y. (2008). Latino dropouts in rural America: Realities and possibilities. Albany: State University of New York Press.