COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 182

August 15, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	STATEWIDE DROPOUT PREVENTION SUMMIT: Learning, Working and Living: Keeping Promises to our Youth

 

The purpose of this memo is to announce a statewide summit focusing on dropout prevention, which involves the public, private, service, and nonprofit sectors. The summit will be held in Richmond on October 28, 2008, and is part of Virginia's participation in a major national effort to highlight the issue of dropout prevention and school completion. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has received a grant from America's Promise Alliance to work in partnership with the various sectors to address high school dropout prevention on a statewide basis.

 

America's Promise Alliance is the nation's largest multi-sector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth and is supporting similar leadership summits in states and cities across the country. With the theme of Learning, Working and Living: Keeping Promises to our Youth, the purpose of the Virginia summit is to promote information sharing and action planning among the sectors about implementation of practices and policies that increase the number of students who stay in school and graduate.

 

The tentative agenda for the summit has been divided into four strands:

 

• Engaging the Student, Engaging the Family: Going Beyond the School Door: Presents effective practices involving schools and community partners that provide supports, such as mentoring, after-school and service learning programs

 

• Counteracting Loss: Making a Living, Making a Difference: Presents effective programs initiated by schools, businesses, community colleges, and other organizations that provide opportunities to regain lost academic ground or prepare for meaningful work

 

• From the State House to the School House: The Intentional and Unintentional Impact of Policies: Addresses legislative and administrative policies at the state and local level that promote persistence to graduation or may have negative consequences for students

 

• Maximizing Resources: Knowing What is Available: Presents information about public and private resources available to support programs

 

The Virginia Department of Education invites you and your staff to participate in the Dropout Summit. Please mark your calendars and save the date. Additional information regarding registration will be available in a subsequent memo. If you have questions or comments, please contact either Cynthia Cave, at 804-225-2818, or by e-mail at Cynthia.Cave@doe.virginia.gov or Vivian Stith-Williams at 804-225-4543, or by e-mail at Vivian.Stith-Williams@doe.virginia.gov.

 

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