Pilot Program to Raise Dropout Age from 16 to 18 Reviewed
Hickory Public Schools and Newton-Conover Schools have
piloted a program to raise the dropout age from its current 16 to 18. This month
the Board heard an update from both districts concerning their efforts in this
area. The districts worked cooperatively to develop a district intervention
process for students at risk. The process included home visits, an after-hours
academy, Judges in Schools, virtual learning opportunities, career/job
placement exploration, Core Academies, deferred prosecution and referrals to
local mental health services, among other strategies.
The district leaders agreed that having the higher
compulsory attendance age helped delay the dropout decision for students and
made it a less impulsive decision, especially for some students who turn 16
during their ninth grade year. District leaders agreed that it would be
beneficial to have the pilot continue through an entire school year for evaluation purposes. Both districts have relatively low annual dropout
rates. Hickory’s rate is 2.84 percent (2013-14) and Newton-Conover’s is .92
percent (2013-14).
Virtual Charter School Update
This is the first operational school year for
the two virtual charter schools that are now open to students statewide. In
January, the Board received information about enrollments and withdrawals from
these two schools.
North Carolina Connections Academy (at the end of its third month) had a
total of 1,796 enrollments and an average daily membership of 1,445. Since the
start of school, 351 students, or 20 percent of enrollments, have withdrawn
from North Carolina Connections Academy.
North Carolina Virtual Academy’s end of third month totals
showed 1,713 total enrollments and an average daily membership of 1,377. North Carolina Virtual Academy saw withdrawals totaling 331 students, or 19 percent of
enrollments, since start of school.
K-3 Literacy Profiled
The 10-member K-3 Literacy Division provides professional
development and technical information to local K-3 classroom teachers and
district English Language Arts directors and other staff. This team provides
assistance to the districts and charter schools in implementing the state’s
comprehensive reading plan.
The goal of this work is to have a successful
reading program in kindergarten through third grade as outlined in the Read to
Achieve law. The work includes a comprehensive reading plan for reading
instruction, a formative diagnostic assessment plan embedded in instruction, and
teachers building a collaborative relationship with parents.
This model, which
has been in schools since 2013-14, has resulted in systemic change for early
grades reading instruction. The best resource for more information about Read
to Achieve and early literacy is the division’s “Livebinder” site.
2016 Raleigh Dingman Award Winner and 2016 SBE Local Board
of Education Advisor Welcomed
Dr. Christine Fitch, chair of the Wilson County Board of
Education, was welcomed to the Board table in January.
She is the new Raleigh
Dingman Award Winner recognized annually by the NC School Boards Association
for outstanding service as a local school board member.
She will serve as an advisor
to the Board for the next year.
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