Virginia's Statewide Dropout Prevention Summit October 28, 2008

Learning, Working and Living: Keeping Promises to Our Youth

Presentations from the summit are available below. You can also view the complete Dropout Prevention Summit Program (PDF).

STRAND 1

Engaging the Student, Engaging the Family: Going Beyond the School Door
This strand focuses on effective practices involving schools and community partners, such as service organizations, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based organizations. Presentations highlight programs that provide support, such as mentoring and after-school programs, address alternative learning opportunities and academic supports, and create community partnerships in schools.

Business and School Partnerships: A Two-Way Street

School Reform: A Catalyst for Partnerships (PPT) – Ensuring Access and Opportunities for All Students
Jay T. Engeln, Consultant, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Colorado Springs, Colorado

STRAND 2

Counteracting Loss: Making a Living, Making a Difference
This stand focuses on the effective programs initiated by schools, businesses, community colleges, and other organizations that provide opportunities for individuals at risk of dropping out, or who have dropped out, to prepare for achieving personal, academic, and career goals.

Empowering Students for a Lifetime of Success: Creating Possibilities

Henry County Schools Career Prep Academy (PPT)
Linda Dorr, Director of Middle and Secondary Instruction, Henry County Public Schools’ Career Preparation Academies, Collinsville, Virginia

The Performance Learning Center (PPT) – CIS Small Schools Model Promoting Graduation and College Readiness
Richard Firth, Director, Performance Learning Center Initiative, Communities In Schools of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Honoring Diverse Pathways to SUCCESS

Honoring Diverse Pathways to SUCCESS (PPT)
Michelle Hairston, Director, Department of Nontraditional Programs, Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond, Virginia

Forest Park Academy, Roanoke City Public Schools (PPT)
Asia R. Jones, Executive Director for Student Support Services, Roanoke City Public Schools, Programs for Overage and Under-credited Students, Roanoke, Virginia

A program specifically designed for overage, under-credited middle and high school students. Social capital: A call to duty – Who is graduating “on-time”? (Word)

Models for Alternative and Nontraditional Approaches

Dropout Prevention and Persistence to Graduation (PPT)
Martin L. Bell, Deputy to the Superintendent, Jefferson County Public School District, Louisville, Kentucky

STRAND 3

From the State House to the School House: The Intentional and Unintentional Impact of Policies
Legislative and administrative policies at the state and local level can promote persistence to graduation or have unintended consequences. Implementation within school divisions and schools can help students needing alternatives and supports to achieve or can work against their connections to school and the community. This strand provides information about pending and current policies of the General Assembly’s Commission on Youth, and the Board of Education. It also presents information about school division and school policies, such as the use of early warning indicators.

Using Early Warning Indicators of Dropout to Target Intervention

Early Warning Systems (PPT) – How to Use Data to Identify and Help Middle and High School Students at High Risk of Dropping Out.
Dr. Ruth C. Neild, Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

The General Assembly: The Commission on Youth’s Studies of Alternative Education, Dropout Prevention, and Truancy

Studies of Alternative Education, Dropout Prevention and Truancy (PPT)
Senator Harry B. Blevins, Vice Chairman, Commission on Youth, Richmond, Virginia;
Delegate Robert H. Brink, Commission on Youth, Richmond, Virginia;
Amy Atkinson, Executive Director, Commission on Youth, Richmond, Virginia;
Leah Hamaker, Legislative Policy Analyst, Commission on Youth, Richmond, Virginia

Graduation Rates, State Policies, and State Resources for Taking Action

Graduation Rates, State Policies, and State Resources for Taking Action (PPT)
Dr. Deborah Jonas, Executive Director for Research and Strategic Planning, Virginia Department of Education, Richmond, Virginia;
Dr. Thomas M. Brewster, Virginia Board of Education, Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Assessment, Pulaski County Public Schools, Pulaski, Virginia

Keynote Presentation

The Silent Epidemic (PPT)
John Bridgeland, President & CEO, Civic Enterprises, Washington, D.C.

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