SENATE, No. 290

SECTION 1. Chapter 76 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1A the following section:-

Section 1B:

(a) The General Court finds it necessary to reinforce the Commonwealth’s commitment to the National Governor’s Association “Graduation Counts Compact,” which seeks to improve collection, analysis, and dissemination of graduation and dropout data and create a nationwide common, accurate graduation rate.

Further, the General Court finds that the State of Massachusetts shall be committed to maintaining a data and public reporting system that accurately accounts for all students when calculating high school graduation rates, and informs the public of progress toward the goal of increasing high school graduation rates.

The General Court finds high-quality data collection and reporting to be accurate, transparent, uniform (both within districts and statewide) and accessible to many different populations.  Further, the General Court acknowledges the recent implementation of a reporting system by the Department of Education, in accordance with the NGA’s Grant and anticipates the release of the statewide graduation rate in February 2007.

The General Court further finds that increased coordination and collaboration among community-based organizations, school districts, businesses, higher education institutions, and alternative education programs is necessary to help lower the dropout rate and also increase efforts aimed at helping those who dropout to re-enroll in education programs. 

The General Court recognizes that school districts are not in the best position to reconnect dropouts to school.  Workforce Investment Boards, through their Youth Councils or P21 Groups, should lead recovery efforts with outreach workers dedicated to dropout recovery.  Collaborative efforts shall allow business and community partners to work with school districts to conduct outreach and referral, and to inform future dropout prevention and recapturing strategies.

The General Court also recognizes that the consequences of leaving school early and failing to attain a diploma are severe and lasting – for those who drop out and society as a whole - and thereby seeks to reduce the statewide dropout rate by 50% by the year 2012.

(b) All school districts throughout the Commonwealth shall be provided with tools for accurate reporting of graduation rates and dropout data.  This data will aid in the Department of Education’s implementation of a longitudinal data collection system and its reporting of graduation rates, including but not limited to a 4-year graduation rate, 5-year graduation rate, and adjusted graduation rates.  This data shall be disaggregated in the following categories: limited English proficiency, low-income, special education, race/ethnicity and gender.  Data shall be coded within the Student Information Management System (SIMS) to reflect various withdrawal designations. 

(c) The Graduation and Dropout Commission shall be established to study dropout prevention and dropout recovery programs and strategies implemented throughout the Commonwealth.  The Commission will be comprised of business and community leaders, as well as other relevant parties. 

(d) The Department of Education shall be provided with funds to hire additional analysts dedicated to collection and comprehensive analysis of graduation and dropout data.  The analyses conducted by the Department will inform future policies to prevent dropouts and improve college readiness.

(e) Every school district with a dropout rate greater than 5% shall develop a district-wide action plan designed to reduce dropout rates and effectively track students.  Action plans shall be submitted to the Department of Education and shall include an outreach and referral strategy as well as a comprehensive listing of alternative education options offered within the public school system or from private alternative education providers.  Districts shall work with teams of community stakeholders, including but not limited to Youth Councils and P-21 Teams, to develop a comprehensive approach to address the dropout issue.  The Department shall provide each district with resources and technical assistance to assist in the development of the plans and enhance the districts’ ability to meet the diverse needs of its student population.

(f) There shall be a “Dropout Prevention and Recovery Grant Program,” hereinafter referred to as “The Program.” The program shall be administered by the department and shall have the following purposes:

            (1) To provide districts with additional funds to implement in-district “early indicator systems” using strong indicators of dropping out to identify students unlikely to graduate on-time from high school without receiving school-based support. 

            (2) To create capacity within regions for outreach to dropouts and referral to local school districts and alternative education programs.

            (3) To provide funds to programs statewide that offer “alternative routes” to a diploma that meet the needs to those returning to education.  Funds shall be awarded to programs that demonstrate coordination and collaboration among the following entities: school districts, community-based organizations, higher           education institutions, alternative education programs, and employers.