Transcription

1 Project U-Turn and Philadelphia Youth Transitions Collaborative American Youth Policy Forum Washington, DC March 8, 2007

2 Agenda Welcome Meeting Purpose & Objectives Unfulfilled Promise Data Research Overview Project U-Turn and PYTC Multiple Pathways to Graduation Discussion of Critical Issues Close& Next Steps

3 Meeting Purpose and Objectives To provide an overview of Project U-Turn research Unfulfilled Promise To hear from the Philadelphia Youth Transitions Collaborative about current project structure and implementation in Philadelphia To hear from School District of Philadelphia CEO, Paul Vallas, about policy and advocacy approaches to the dropout issue

4 Research and Data Analysis

5 Data Analysis Uses the KIDS data set: merged school district and agency data (Vital Statistics, juvenile justice, Department of Human Services), allowing us to follow students over time.

6 Three Key Sets of Questions How many students drop out of school in a given year? What percentage of freshmen graduate from high school within 4 years? 5 years? 6 years? What factors are very good predictors of dropping out of high school?

7 Who Makes up Dropouts? Students who are listed as leaving the district, but have no withdrawal code Students who dropped out, according to the district Students whose status simply disappears in district data

8 Of the 130,000 Students in Grades ,000 dropped out of school Grade distribution of dropouts 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 31% 25% 20% 16% 7% 6th-8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

9 Age Distribution of Dropouts 30% 27% 25% 20% 15% 15% 21% 15% 21% 10% 5% 0% 15 or younger or older

10 The Near-Dropouts An additional 5,000 students in grades 6-12 Technically enrolled in school Were absent more than half the time

11 Trends in Cohort Graduation Rates

12 Switching Gears to Think about Graduation Rates A graduate is anyone who earns a regular diploma from the School District of Philadelphia not a GED

13 % grad Percentage 4-6 of students graduating in four, five, or six yrs years for six cohorts of first-time ninth graders 100% 6 years 80% 5 years 60% 4 years 40% 20% 0% Class of 2000 Class of 2001 Class of 2002 Class of 2003 Class of 2004 Class of 2005

14

15 Early Indicators of Dropout from 8 th Grade Factors Two factors gave students at least a 75% probability of dropping out: Failing math and/or English in 8th grade Attending less than 80% of the time 54% of the dropouts were at-risk 8 th graders

16 Early Indicators of dropout from 9th grade factors Three factors gave students at least a 75% probability of dropping out: Attending less than 70% of the time Earning fewer than 2 credits Not being promoted to 10th grade after 1st year in high school 80% of the dropouts were at-risk 8th or 9th graders

17 Situation Characteristics Percent dropping out Percent graduating N of students in this condition Substantiated case of abuse or neglect 71.3% 27.4% 237 Foster care placement 75.2% 24.6% 597 Juvenile justice placement (all students) 90.1% 9.5% 965 Gave birth within 4 years of starting high school (females) 68.3% 31.5% 1,262

18 Conclusions & Implications Students drop out for a variety of reasons Prevention & recovery are mutual priorities Partnerships/integrated services are essential to resolving the crisis Greater educational options are needed to meet the growing demand and complex circumstances of out-of-school youth

19 Philadelphia s Youth Transitions Collaborative Center for Literacy Community College of Philadelphia Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project Philadelphia Department of Juvenile Probation/Family Court Johns Hopkins University Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth Philadelphia Department of Human Services Philadelphia Education Fund Philadelphia Youth Network, managing partner School District of Philadelphia United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania William Penn Foundation

20 Using a Framework 1. Data 2. Policy 3. Educational options 4. Stakeholder involvement

21 Philadelphia Youth Council Education Pathways Committee Structure Project U-Turn Collaborative Steering Committee Grant oversight Education Pathways Committee (Project U-Turn) Alternative Education Provider Network Professional development, Networking Issue identification, Policy Guidance Social Services/ Employment Case management Service strategies Partnerships Multiple Pathways Program R&D Evaluation Data & Research Issue identification School District Anchor 3: Dropout Prevention & Recovery SDP Education Leadership Team Pathways implementation and related policy support Division of Social Services Workgroup Policy interventions specific to city departments

22 Multiple Pathways Aims To increase quality and quantity of educational opportunities available to Philadelphia youth To fill system gaps and bring to scale interventions To sustain attention on critical facets of work including professional development, partnerships, etc.

23 Current Pathways Graphic a conceptual model for out-of-school youth Education Pathways (degree-granting) GED Accelerated Schools 950 Educational Options 2000 Gateway to College 200 Other Pathways to be determined 12 th gr / 23.5 credits Literacy grade level / Credits accumulated Regional, Wrap-around Support Services <1 st gr. / 0 credits Academic Workforce Life Skills E 3 E 3 E 3 E 3 E 3 W AI Proposed/needed E 3 = E 3 Centers AI = Achieving Independence Center W= WIA OSY Providers

24 Philadelphia Multiple Pathways System for OSY RE-ENGAGEMENT Youth interested in reconnecting to an educational pathway receive orientation and assessment at one of several Regional Re-Engagement Centers before being referred to a bridge program or pathway BRIDGE EXPERIENCE Youth who need to increase their literacy skills and/or credit levels, or receive support regarding barriers to education will work with a case manager and specialists until ready for successful entry into a pathway option. A. ALTERNATIVE Educational Pathways & Student Supports Accelerated Schools Gateway to College GED E 3 Centers Educational Options Program Virtual School Young Adult Diploma Program Student support services are a component of these models CBO partners would provide supports and services through a Learning to Work pairing/arrangement B. TRADITIONAL Educational Pathways & Student Supports Charter Schools Vocational Schools Traditional Day School School based supports like Student Success Centers and others would be in place to serve at-risk students

25 Policy Recommendations Reauthorization Issues Supporting High Schools

26 Laura Shubilla Philadelphia Youth Network Courtney Collins Shapiro School District of Philadelphia Paul Vallas School District of Philadelphia Ruth Neild Johns Hopkins University