Dropout Commission Calls for Support; Alternative Pathways for Struggling Students

State panel recommends target areas for improvement to reduce dropout rate

BOSTON – Governor Deval Patrick today accepted the report of the Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission, citing the need to act more aggressively and urgently to help schools better support and educate students so as to ensure every student graduates from high school ready for college, career and life success.

The 45-member Commission, established by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, was charged with examining current policies and practices and making recommendations on how to retain the 10,000 students who drop out of school each year, and re-engage students who have already dropped out.

“Each student who drops out of school represents a failure of our education system, a personal tragedy and a loss to our society,” said Education Secretary Paul Revile. “In the 21^st century, there is virtually nowhere to go without a high school diploma. We need to focus on dramatically reducing our dropout rate.”

The Commission recommends the state commit to reducing the dropout rate by 50% over the next five years through a variety of strategies including better identification of students demonstrating risk factors earlier in their education, expanding access to alternative education programs and increasing the age at which students may legally drop out from 16- to 18-years-old.

“The vitality of the Commonwealth’s future is directly linked to our ability to educate our students and help them develop into productive, engaged citizens,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. “To do that we must employ multiple strategies to support every single student and the recommendations of this Commission are a significant step in the right direction.”

"In my district, and in communities all across the state, there are economic, cultural and other realities that lead students to the decision to drop out," said State Senator Anthony Galluccio (D-Cambridge), a member of the Commission. “I was honored to represent the Senate on the Commission. The Commission recognized that economic challenges are one motivating factor pushing students to leave school to get a job. It also provides a foundation to look at restoring such programs as work study in our high schools."

“The disproportionally high dropout rates in Massachusetts among Latino, African American students and limited English proficient students should be a cause of great concern for all adults who are committed to the positive development of all children in our state,” said State Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), a member of the Commission. “This pervasive inequity in educational opportunity creates an immediate barrier to future economic success to a significant segment of our population. Evidence based solutions to this crisis must be implemented now.”

The Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission report details the near- and long-term social and fiscal costs of students dropping out. Over their lifetime, students who drop out not only earn less than students who complete high school or higher education, they cost the Commonwealth nearly $118,124 each in benefits such as food stamps, healthcare, childcare, and housing subsidies over the course of their lifetime.

Massachusetts dropout rates are disproportionately high among Hispanic and African-American students, limited English proficient students, special education students, and students from low-income families preventing them from achieving success in high school and beyond. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that 60% of all new jobs in MA created from economic growth between 2006 and 2016 will require an associate’s degree or higher, suggesting that high school degree is only the start of the educational attainment needed to prepare students for a meaningful career.

To achieve those goals, the report recommends action in four areas: New Statewide Expectations; Early Identification; Effective Prevention, Interventions, and Recovery; and Responsive Reforms and Budget Priorities.

The report recommends a series of strategies from improving existing rules and regulations, improving identification of students demonstrating risk factors and improving choices and options for students.

The four target areas for improvement are:

New Statewide Expectations: The Commission recommends that the state commit to reducing the dropout rate by half over the next five years through a combination of heightened expectations, changed attitudes toward educational attainment, and enhanced support for students and educators.

Early Identification: Recognizing that dropping out only results after years of disengagement, the Commission recommends extension of the Early Indicators program currently being piloted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which links potential risk factors as early as elementary school.

Effective Prevention, Interventions, and Recovery:

The Commission report recommends targeted interventions to individual students, connecting school to college and career, more actively reaching out to dropouts and providing them with alternative pathways to graduation.

Responsive Reforms and Budget Priorities:

After careful review of current policies and weighing feedback from students, families, educators and others, the Commission recommends increasing the compulsory school attendance age to 18-years-old gradually and with a series of additional supports from the state, as well as a closer review of disciplinary and other policies that directly remove or allow the removal of students from school. The Commission recognizes that simply increasing the attendance age without accompanying support, programs and accountability will be unsuccessful.

The Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission was comprised of 45 members including a cross-section of members of the education, workforce, health and human services sectors and members of the Legislature. They met over the past 12 months and held three public hearings to gather feedback from concerned citizens.

“Taken together, these strategies comprise a roadmap for the Commonwealth to begin to attack the dropout rate by more closely focusing on the needs of students,” Secretary Reville said. “However, we recognize that there is no one single strategy or easy fix that will solve this crisis. It is only with hard work, commitment and dedication, and the support of the community that we will make progress on our goal or providing a high quality education for every student in the state.”

Secretary Reville also issued a challenge to social entrepreneurs and members of the philanthropic community to join the state and help support efforts to expand access to programming and other supports for students.

The full report is available here.

For more information or to read the full report, please visit www.mass.gov/education.