Conference Centers on School Dropout Prevention
Contact: Kay Hyatt at (207) 581-2761
ORONO, Maine — Strategies and policy to improve learning environments and opportunities for students at risk of dropping out of school is the focus of a statewide conference for educators taking place July 25-26 at the University of Maine. The Dropout Prevention Summer Institute will provide information and steps to help schools develop comprehensive K-12 dropout prevention plans.
Maine Department of Education data over the past decade show fluctuating numbers of students dropping out of the state’s secondary schools. In 2003-04, 1,799 students or 2.63 percent of students dropped out of the state’s public secondary schools and private schools with more than 60 percent publicly funded students. That was the lowest dropout percentage in a decade. However, in1998-99, the dropout numbers climbed to 2,092 or 3.22 percent of students before beginning another decline.
“Schools are required by state and federal law to develop dropout prevention plans, and the institute will offer some expert guidance,” says Shelley Reed, coordinator of truancy, dropout prevention, alternative education, homeless and school counselor programs at the Maine Department of Education. “In addition, our speakers will help participants better understand who our at-risk students are, their circumstances, and how we can help them succeed.”
In addition to other activities aimed at providing information and best practices, a guided workshop will help steer participants in the creation and development of a local school district dropout prevention plan.
The institute is collaboratively sponsored by the Maine Department of Education, UMaine’s Institute for the Study of Students At Risk within the College of Education and Human Development, and the Alternative Education Association of Maine.
Three keynote addresses are scheduled for July 25. Motivational speaker Guy Doud of Baxter, Minnesota, 1986 National Teacher of the Year, will open the conference with a presentation based on his best-seller book, Molder of Dreams. The author of other award-winning books, such as Classroom of the Heart, Joy in the Journey and Stuff You Gotta Know, as well as audio tapes and videos, Doud demonstrates the power of encouragement, relationships and caring in reaching youth and building self-esteem.
Vernita Mickens, a lead consultant at Colorado-based Mid-continent Research and Education and Learning (McREL), will discuss the National Dropout Prevention Recognition Program, as well as strategies to improve the achievement of students at risk for failure or dropping out of school. McREL is a nonprofit education research and development organization that provides products and services, including school reform policies and programs, to educators worldwide.
The federal School Dropout Prevention Program provides competitive grants to state education agencies and to local school districts with annual dropout rates above state average to implement research-based, sustainable dropout prevention and re-entry programs. The national dropout rate is about 11 percent over the past decade, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
William Davis, professor of special education and director of the Institute for the Study of Students At Risk, will present factors and conditions that place students at risk, and
dropout prevention strategies. Davis’ research focus during the past year has been student dropout issues and concerns, with investigation into areas such why students drop out and when, high and low dropout school districts, and tracking student dropouts. Many of his findings will be compiled in a Dropout Prevention Guidebook, which will be disseminated to all Maine public schools.
The July 26 speaker is Mary Madden, UMaine assistant research professor, who will discuss preliminary findings from the state Gender Equity Task Force, which is working to identify issues and come up with strategies to meet the educational needs of boys and girls. Madden is a member of the task force.
For more information and registration, contact the Institute for the Study of Students At Risk, (207) 581-2440; Roxanne.lee@umit.maine.edu.