DROPOUT PREVENTIONMORE THAN JUST

ACADEMICSOne districts approach to teach to the

Whole Child

Academically & Emotionally.

Midland ISD Rates

Midland ISD Rates

Midland ISD Rates

How we got there

Program Support

Campus Level Intervention (tutorials, Study Islands, etc..)

Mentor/Life Coach Program Collegiate Coach – works with off-track students

by cohort Home Visits

Credit Recovery Program A+ / Virtual courses Night School 4:00pm-9:00pm Mon - Thurs

Academic Grad Plans Conference & Maintained Grades 6th-12th

Student Data Driven Process

Monitor and Track student data Student Data Tracking

5th – 12th On-Track StatusEnrolled studentsCombined cohorts

Cohort Status TrackingEnrolled and withdrawn studentsReport per cohort

Outreach

Community Forums Recovery Walk Student Success Summit Community Business/Agency

Presentations Relationship with the Court System Parent Support Sessions Campus Student Relationship

Spreading AwarenessBut still not targeting the root…

Grief & Student Stress

5th grade Surveyed

A New Avenue

The Whole Child:

A New Direction in EducationUnited Way

Community Initiative Grant

Collaborative Team

Midland Independent School District Office of Accountability Office of Dropout Prevention Education Foundation

Rays of Hope, Children’s Grief Center

Communities in Schools of the Permian Basin

United Way of Midland

Action Plan

Train ALL staff Recognize indicators in regards to grief issues Identify the needs of grieving students Learn how to utilize appropriate coping tools.

Organize Grief Support meetings for students

Committed family assistance

Provide our shadowed students with a face they can rely on

So the Hiding can

Learn to Laugh Again

Student Grief SessionsMeet twice a month during

lunchNo Lectures….Just Voice

Time.

Action Taken

Rays of Hope – A local Non-profit agency partnered with our district to help the discussion of grief become accepted. Trained every campus. Provided tools & resources Training continues for new staff and refresher

training for the counseling staff. Provided added support during crisis situations Provide added ways to incorporate the

discussion of grief in the set curriculum Campus Presentations to students – In the

works.

Action Taken

Communities In Schools Continued support with Student Assistance Work with the “Most” At=Risk Organized Challenge Day at one High School

Campus Participate in Student Grief Group sessions Introduced and Expanded XY Zone Program to

the high schools

Action Taken

Midland ISD Flexible Scheduling Collegiate Coach positions to assist counselors

with the “Most” At-Risk students Credit Recovery Program at no charge and

available at night. Available scheduling opportunities with

outside agencies to provide training/support. Introduced a new position – A Crisis Counselor

Action Taken Midland ISD

Dropout Prevention Fast Fwd Presentations

Be A Hero Be A Graduate 5th Grade Discuss how an increasing number of students in schools across America are struggling to

stay in school. Share the understanding of the troublesome life lived by pre-teens today

Few have a dream, surviving today is allTeen ParentsPovertyFriends with the “Shoulda” attitudeGangs and Violence

Fulfilling their self fulfilling prophecies Proving discouraging entities wrong Making your family and YOURSELF PROUD Recognizing they are in control of their future Understanding how they handle their life today, can impact their future Knowing they can always press Fast Forward in their mind to see what their future may be

but can never rewind Emphasis on the power of their VOICE and to use it when they need help

Action Taken

Midland ISD Dropout Prevention Fast Fwd Presentations

Learn to Laugh Again 6th Grade Discuss how students struggle to focus in school due to the

emotional baggage they do not know how to manage. Share the understanding of Cultural challengesAncestry beliefsBeing brushed asideDrama Queen & King labels Understanding that they are not alone with the issues they are

dealing with Knowing when they need help to reach out to a TRUSTING adult Recognizing the power of their VOICE not only to help themselves

but others Emphasis on the "bystander" witnessing bullying - to stand up

and get help when they see someone in trouble

Action Taken

Midland ISD Learn to Laugh Again Student Grief Groups

Twice month during lunch Time for Adult and Peer support Counselors, Collegiate Coaches, CIS, Dropout

Prevention Coordinator and Youth pastors involved Not a set curriculum, just a time to be heard Follow-up with parents Referrals to medical professionals as needed Emphasizing the point that they are never alone. Proving Caring individuals exist, they just need to

find the one that fits best for them.

Fast Fwd Presentations Teacher Survey

Learn to Laugh Again Grief Groups Student Survey

100% of the students liked the group Students expressed the following

They had a place to be heard They could express themselves better They could speak without people passing

judgment They felt discussions were relatable They could express emotions freely They were taken seriously They felt important

Emotional Impact Cons

Though we know a students emotions impact their everyday, it is hard to reflect with certainty in data such as:

Test scores Attendance Discipline Credit Attainment Dropout Status Etc…

Emotional Impact Pros

We can see change in the individual student which then reflects in their everyday life such as: Healing scars Speaking / Making Friends Walking with their head up Pulling hair away from eyes Reaching out more Less confrontational Staying Alive

We still look at the data knowing their Individual Emotional Growth has

played a huge part in their Academics.

Class 2018 Data

Class 2018 Data

Class 2018 Data

Midland Independent School District

Midland Texas

Deborah A. AcostaDropout Prevention / Recovery

& At-Risk Coordinator

daacosta@midlandisd.net 432-689-1980