1. Presentation V A Discussion with School Boards: Raising the Graduation Rate, High School Improvement, and Policy Decisions

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. Presentation V Next Steps QUESTIONS

10. 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 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 http://www.future.virginia.gov/docs/IssueInsights/Insight1.pdf Presentation V

11. 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 http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/graduation_ 5.Eight Elements of High School Improvement: A Mapping Framework; The National High School Center http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSCEightElements7-25-08.pdf 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.eduhttp://maec.ceee.gwu.edu E-mail: donna.carr@edvantia.org