The Most Exciting Twenty Minutes of Your Life Probably

SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION

AT RISK CHILDREN

Students who are at risk of failing

and show signs of being on the verge
of withdrawing from school.

DROPOUT

a person who stops going to a

school, college, etc., before finishing
a person who stops being involved in
society because he or she does not
believe in its rules, customs, and
values
Dropout - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout

WHAT THE KIDS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT

DROPPING OUT

Two-thirdssaid they would have worked harder to graduate if their

schools had demanded more of them and provided the necessary
academic and personal supports to help them succeed.

There wasnt anybody to keep me there, said a young man from

Philadelphia, who had dreams of going to college, dropped out of high school
with just one year to go, regrets the decision, and is now unemployed.

As [students] grew older, there was more freedom and other

distractions to draw them away from school. 62% reported they had
grades of Cs or better when they left school and 70% were confident
they could have met their schools graduation requirements. More
than half (58%) dropped out with just two years or less to complete
high school, and 74% would have stayed in school if they had to do it
over again.

New Report Illuminates Americas Silent Dropout Epidemic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.-b). Retrieved February 24, 2014,
from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2006/03/Americas-Silent-Dropout-Epidemic

DROPOUT STATISTICS

NCES Study on public high school

dropouts for 2012

6.6% All Races

4.3% Whites
7.5% Blacks
12.7% Hispanics
Digest of Education Statistics, 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_219.70.asp

DROPOUT STATISTICS

Males

7.3% All Races

4.8% Whites
8.1% Blacks
13.9% Hispanics

Females

5.9% All Races

3.8% Whites
7.0% Blacks
11.3% Hispanics

Digest of Education Statistics, 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_219.70.asp

DROPOUT STATISTICS

2007 Article

In general, males are more likely to be

dropouts than females (9.8% vs. 7.7%),
but teenage pregnancy and parenthood
are particularly strong risk factors for
young women, especially in the United
States

Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and Intervention Programs:
Effects on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2011:8. Campbell Collaboration.

Half of female dropouts receive their GED by

WHY STUDENTS DROP OUT

2007 Study: Five major reasons

identified

47%
43%
42%
38%
35%

Bored with school.

Too many missed days to catch up with work
spend a lot of time with other at risk children
Too much autonomy in their lives
Were already failing.

ERIC - Why Students Drop Out, Educational Leadership, 2007-Apr. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ766421

OTHER REASONS WHY STUDENTS

DROP OUT

Pregnancy
Work becomes a priority
Unsafe environment
Trouble fitting in
INFOGRAPHIC: Americas School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers. (1920a, October 3). Huffington Post. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/sundance-infographic-americas-school_n_4032373.html
Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009a). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.
Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and Intervention Programs: Effects
on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2011:8. Campbell Collaboration.

STUDENTS MOST AT RISK

Low socioeconomic status

Minorities
ESL students
Disabled
Frequent movers
Poor readers
Drug Users
Bored in school

Retained students
Constantly suspended
and expelled
Come from single
parent homes
Home alone more
than 3 hours a day
Pregnancy

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.

STUDENT DISENGAGEMENT

Although there is no single risk factor

that accurately predicts who is at-risk of
dropping out and dropouts are not a
homogenous group, the chance of
dropping out is often a long process of
disengagement that may begin before a
child enters school.
46794405.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/D79/01Jul09/46794405.pdf?
T=P&P=AN&K=46794405&S=R&D=lih&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeqLI4xNvgOLCmr0yeprRSs6e4SLKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGusU60pq9LuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

WHAT IS DROPOUT PREVENTION?

Instead of blaming at risk students

for dropping out, educators are
reevaluating the school system to
strengthen schools, students, and
communities in an effort to prevent
students from dropping out.
Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.

DROPOUT PREVENTION
STRATEGIES

Mentoring/Tutoring

Service-Learning

Service-learning connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning. This
teaching/learning method promotes personal and social growth, career development, and civic
responsibility and can be a powerful vehicle for effective school reform at all grade levels.

Alternative Schooling

Mentoring is a one-to-one caring, supportive relationship between a mentor and a mentee that is
based on trust. Tutoring, also a one-to-one activity, focuses on academics and is an effective practice
when addressing specific needs such as reading, writing, or math competencies.

Alternative schooling provides potential dropouts a variety of options that can lead to graduation,
with programs paying special attention to the student's individual social needs and academic
requirements for a high school diploma.

After-School Opportunities

Many schools provide after-school and summer enhancement programs that eliminate information
loss and inspire interest in a variety of areas. Such experiences are especially important for students at
risk of school failure because these programs fill the afternoon "gap time" with constructive and
engaging activities.
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies

DROPOUT PREVENTION
STRATEGIES

Family Engagement

Early Childhood Education

Research consistently finds that family engagement has a direct, positive effect
on children's achievement and is the most accurate predictor of a student's
success in school.
Birth-to-five interventions demonstrate that providing a child additional
enrichment can enhance brain development. The most effective way to reduce
the number of children who will ultimately drop out is to provide the best possible
classroom instruction from the beginning of their school experience through the
primary grades.

Early Literacy Development

Early interventions to help low-achieving students improve their reading and

writing skills establish the necessary foundation for effective learning in all other
subjects.
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies

DROPOUT PREVENTION
STRATEGIES

Systemic Renewal

School-Community Collaboration

A continuing process of evaluating goals and objectives related to school

policies, practices, and organizational structures as they impact a diverse
group of learners.
When all groups in a community provide collective support to the school, a
strong infrastructure sustains a caring supportive environment where youth
can thrive and achieve.

Safe Learning Environments

A comprehensive violence prevention plan, including conflict resolution, must

deal with potential violence as well as crisis management. A safe learning
environment provides daily experiences, at all grade levels, that enhance
positive social attitudes and effective interpersonal skills in all students.
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies

DROPOUT PREVENTION
STRATEGIES

Professional Development

Active Learning

Technology offers some of the best opportunities for delivering instruction to engage students in authentic
learning, addressing multiple intelligences, and adapting to students' learning styles.

Individualized Instruction

Active learning embraces teaching and learning strategies that engage and involve students in the learning
process. Students find new and creative ways to solve problems, achieve success, and become lifelong
learners when educators show them that there are different ways to learn.

Educational Technology

Teachers who work with youth at high risk of academic failure need to feel supported and have an avenue by
which they can continue to develop skills, techniques, and learn about innovative strategies.

Each student has unique interests and past learning experiences. An individualized instructional program for
each student allows for flexibility in teaching methods and motivational strategies to consider these individual
differences.

Career and Technology Education (CTE)

A quality CTE program and a related guidance program are essential for all students. School-to-work
programs recognize that youth need specific skills to prepare them to measure up to the larger demands of
today's workplace.
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ROLE

Continue to advocate for the rights of students to read

challenging books that are relevant to their life
circumstances
Gather brain game books like Brain Busters!: mindstretching puzzles in Math and Logic to cultivate critical
thinking
Make positive relationships with students
Really get to know them
After School tutoring
Studies suggest peer tutoring decreases drop out rate.

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN ROLE

Advocate for curriculum changes based on local college

demands.
Go to standup.org to see the percent of students for a
given state are ready for college.
Learn about the schools ethnic and socioeconomic
culture.
Recognize when [your] own professional dispositions
may need to be adjusted and are able to develop plans
to do so
Create after school recreational or reading programs

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.

ENHANCING CURRICULUM

Urge teachers to utilize library texts that reflect

various reading levels and learning styles.
Use teacher collaboration to inspire new learning
projects that meet the needs of all.

Schools that have large numbers of dropouts tend to

have inflexible schedules narrow curricula, uninspired
teaching, rigid instructional strategies and inappropriate
texts and resources.
Dont make homework too easy.

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.

ENHANCING CURRICULUM

Leave articles that will help with student

life decisions in hard to miss places
throughout the school.
Use real life problems and concerns as a
teaching expereince.
Provide opportunitites for meaningful
participation

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Make the media center/school library an

inviting place to students.
Be inviting to identified at risk students
and students who have problems fitting in.
Dont push kids out of the media
room/library.
Help students build relationships with one
another.

Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790.

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: WEBSITES

http://www.urban.org/
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/
http://www.gatesfoundation.org
http://www.edtrust.org/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES:

Graduation for All: A

Practical Guide to
Decreasing School
Dropout.

By Camilla A Lehr,Ann T.
Clapper, and Martha Thurlow

Dropouts in America:
Confronting the Graduation
Rate Crisis.

Edited by Gary Orfield

Image source: http://www.amazon.com/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES:

Best Practices to Help

At-Risk Learners

Franklin P. Schargel

Helping Students
Graduate: A Strategic
Approach to Dropout
Prevention.

Jay Smink and Franklin P.

Schargel

Image source: http://www.amazon.com/

LIBRARIAN RESOURCES: BOOKS

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/publi
cations/all-publications-by-title

REFERENCES PAGE

Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.amazon.com/
Digest of Education Statistics, 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_219.70.asp
Dropout - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout
Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention | National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies
ERIC - Why Students Drop Out, Educational Leadership, 2007-Apr. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?
id=EJ766421
INFOGRAPHIC: Americas School Dropout Epidemic By The Numbers. (1920a, October 3). Huffington Post. Retrieved February 22,
2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/sundance-infographic-americas-school_n_4032373.html
Jones, J. B. (2006). The Numbers Are Astounding: The Role of the Media Specialist in DROPOUT PREVENTION. (cover story). Library
Media Connection, 25(2), 1013.
Jones, J. L. (2009a). Dropout Prevention through the School Library: Dispositions, Relationships, and Instructional Practices. School
Libraries Worldwide, 15(2), 7790. 46794405.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/pdf23_24/pdf/2009/D79/01Jul09/46794405.pdf?
T=P&P=AN&K=46794405&S=R&D=lih&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeqLI4xNvgOLCmr0yeprRSs6e4SLKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=d
GJyMPGusU60pq9LuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network |. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.dropoutprevention.org/
New Report Illuminates Americas Silent Dropout Epidemic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
(n.d.-b). Retrieved February 24, 2014, from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2006/03/Americas-SilentDropout-Epidemic
Wilson, S. J., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Lipsey, M. W., Steinka-Fry, K., Morrison, J., & Campbell Collaboration. (2011). Dropout Prevention and
Intervention Programs: Effects on School Completion and Dropout among School-Aged Children and Youth. Campbell Systematic
Reviews. 2011:8. Campbell Collaboration.