The Board of Trustees expects all students to remain in school until graduation in order to acquire critical knowledge and skills and be prepared for postsecondary education and/or employment. The Superintendent or designee shall identify factors that impede student success in school and shall implement integrated, systemic support and strategies that address dropout prevention and promote timely intervention and recovery.
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6146.2 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)
(cf. 6146.5 - Elementary/Middle School Graduation Requirements)
The Superintendent or designee, in collaboration with community agencies and organizations as appropriate, shall develop districtwide and schoolwide strategies that support regular school attendance for all students. Dropout prevention strategies shall include efforts to provide a safe and positive learning environment that engages and motivates students, encourages students' connectedness to the schools, offers meaningful educational opportunities, and promotes student health and well-being.
(cf. 5136 - Gangs)
(cf. 5137 - Positive School Climate)
(cf. 5146 - Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students)
(cf. 6171 - Title I Programs)
(cf. 6173 - Education for Homeless Children)
(cf. 6173.1 - Education for Foster Youth)
(cf. 6173.2 - Education of Children of Military Families)
(cf. 6175 - Migrant Education Program)
In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies to provide targeted support to individual students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Students may be identified based on indicators such as chronic absenteeism, truancy, or tardiness; below-grade-level academic achievement as evidenced by student assessment results and/or teacher evaluations; and personal, social, health, or economic circumstances that may affect student performance and behavior in school.
(cf. 5113 - Absences and Excuses)
(cf. 5113.1 - Chronic Absence and Truancy)
(cf. 5123 - Promotion/Acceleration/Retention)
(cf. 6162.5 - Student Assessment)
(cf. 6162.51 - State Academic Achievement Tests)
(cf. 6162.52 - High School Exit Examination)
Strategies to support students at risk of dropping out of school may include, but are not limited to:
1. Meetings and/or home visits with the student and parent/guardian to identify and address barriers to the student's success and inform them of the state's compulsory education law
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)
2. Individualized instruction that responds to the needs and unique learning styles of students
3. Supplemental instruction during or outside the school day that is designed to help students overcome academic deficiencies
(cf. 6176 - Weekend/Saturday Classes)
(cf. 6177 - Summer Learning Programs)
(cf. 6179 - Supplemental Instruction)
4. Enrollment in alternative or specialized educational programs
(cf. 6158 - Independent Study)
(cf. 6164.4 - Identification and Evaluation of Individuals for Special Education)
(cf. 6172 - Gifted and Talented Student Program)
(cf. 6178 - Career Technical Education)
(cf. 6178.2 - Regional Occupational Center/Program)
(cf. 6181 - Alternative Schools/Programs of Choice)
(cf. 6183 - Home and Hospital Instruction)
(cf. 6184 - Continuation Education)
(cf. 6185 - Community Day School)
5. Academic guidance and personal counseling services
(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)
6. Referral to a student study team, school attendance review board, or other team that addresses persistent attendance problems
(cf. 6164.5 - Student Success Teams)
7. Information regarding school and/or community support services, such as a student assistance program, health services, social services, a substance abuse program, and other resources
(cf. 1020 - Youth Services)
(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)
(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)
(cf. 5141.6 - School Health Services)
8. Continued monitoring of student attendance
The strategies may be incorporated into the district's local control and accountability plan and linked to district goals for student engagement, school climate, and student achievement.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive School Safety Plan)
(cf. 0460 - Local Control and Accountability Plan)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that employees are trained to support at-risk students and are prepared to implement intervention strategies or to make appropriate referrals to support services.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
When a student leaves school prior to the end of a school year, or when a student successfully completed the prior school year but did not begin attending the next grade or school that he/she was expected to attend or had pre-registered to attend, the Superintendent or designee shall make efforts to determine whether the student has dropped out or has transferred to another educational setting. The Superintendent or designee may contact the student's parents/guardians to verify school enrollment and, if necessary, shall implement intervention and recovery efforts.
The Superintendent or designee shall regularly report to the Board on measures of student engagement, including school attendance rates, chronic absenteeism rates, and middle school dropout rates. The Board shall monitor district progress in increasing student retention in school and may require revisions in district plans and strategies as needed.
(cf. 0500 - Accountability)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35160 Authority of governing board
48200 Compulsory education
48400-48403 Compulsory continuation education
48430-48438 Continuation education
48660-48666 Community day schools
49600-49604 Educational counseling
51260-51269 Gang and substance abuse prevention curriculum
51745-51749.3 Independent study
52060-52077 Local control and accountability plan
52300-52334 Regional occupational centers and programs
52890 Qualifications and duties of outreach consultants
54690-54697 Partnership academies
60900-60901 California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System
64000-64001 Single plan for student achievement
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
18986.40-18986.46 Interagency children's services programs
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
California High School Graduation and Dropout Rates, Fact Sheet, May 2013
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
California Dropout Research Project: http://www.cdrp.ucsb.edu
California Student Assistance Program Resource Center: http://www.casapresources.org
National Dropout Prevention Center: http://www.dropoutprevention.org
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Policy LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: November 18, 2014 Lancaster, California