Boulder Valley School District

Boulder ValleySchool District

Excellence & Equity

BSVD’s Response to our Dropouts


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Intentional focus and work to prevent dropouts and increase graduates

Preliminary results indicate: Higher retention rate Increased credit retrieval rate Declining failure rate at pilot schools Improved attendance rates


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What is the significant work that led to these

results? Standards-Based Instructional Practices Early identification and intervention Real-time credit recovery Horizons Program (Centaurus HS) Options Academy (Arapahoe Campus) Understanding the relevant research

How many students show early warning signs of school disengagement and when does it start?

If they do show these early signs, is it predictive of whether they ultimately drop out or graduate from high school?

Can schools identify and effectively intervene with students showing these early warning signs?


Excellence & Equity

Johns Hopkins Research

Just 10 absences can make the difference between being on track to graduation or off-track

Dropouts have higher levels of suspensions than others, but this is not as strong a predictor of dropping out as course failure and attendance

This is not just a high school issue


Excellence & EquityJohn Hopkins Results

These indicators were predictive as early as 6th grade: When a sixth grader’s attendance dips below

80%, the student has only a 1 in 6 chance of graduating on time or one year late

Only 20% of 6th graders receiving an out-of-school suspension graduated on time or one year late

6th graders who failed Math or English/Reading rarely graduated at all


Excellence & EquityJohn Hopkins Results

This research has been replicated in other urban districts like Chicago and also in five Colorado school districts

(DPS, Jeffco, Aurora, Adams 12 & Pueblo).

THE RESULTS ARE THE SAME


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What does this mean in Colorado?

Colorado Youth for a Change…………...cycinfo.org National Center for School Engagement, an

Initiative of the Partnership for Families and Children…..……………………..schoolengagement.org

Colorado Children’s Campaign… .coloradokids.org


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BVSD Dropout Retrieval, Prevention and Intervention Partnerships and

Colorado Graduates Initiative

Dropout Outreach & Recovery Intervention Program New Program & School Development


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Colorado Youth for a Change

BVSD Partnerships

School Policy & Practice Review Design & Implement Early Warning

System Resource Mapping Professional Development


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National Center for School Engagement

BVSD Partnerships

Indentifying policy impediments to child success, building public and legislative support for the most effective solutions and effectively advocating for policies to improve the lives of the kids in Colorado


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Colorado Children’s Campaign

BVSD Partnerships

BVSD Dropout Intervention

BVSD Graduates Initiative


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Dropout Outreach & Recovery Identified 538 dropouts (2006-2009)

48 had graduated or earned GED 39 re-enrolled in BVSD 134 enrolled in another district 54 were too old to return 188 not found/moved Remainder declined support


Excellence & EquityBVSD Graduates Initiative


Dropout Outreach & Recovery Of the 39 students re-enrolled:

3 graduated 5 received a GED 10 continuing and 11 re-enrolled this fall 10 dropped with no further contact




Ninth and Tenth Grade Intervention at Centaurus High School

Even one course failure in the 9th grade drastically reduces the chance of graduating on time






CHS 9th-10th Intervention Program# Classes Passed or Failed

Fall 2009 Semester



CHS 9th-10th Intervention Program# Classes Passed or Failed

Spring 2010 Semester

Next Steps Intervene with 11th and 12th graders who

are overage and under credit Support new program and school design Resources permitting, begin work at

Boulder High School


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BVSD Graduates Initiative

Lafayette Schools Policy and Practice Review to identify

barriers and follow with recommendations and action plans

Assist with facilitation and professional development to change practices




Next Steps Complete Resource Mapping and assist with

integration of internal and external resources Design and Implement Early Warning System K-12 Assist with identification and implementation of

interventions to address students identified through the Early Warning System K-12




Dropout rate is a measurement

typically considered by high schools, but

it occurs over multiple years.


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Grounded in extensive research Multi-pronged approach to early intervention

and prevention Real time dropout and credit recovery Every student will have a plan for graduation

and beyond (ICAP) It is possible for every student to graduate!



BVSD Graduates Initiativeis Gap-Closing Work

Boulder Valley School District

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