Six questions: Sam Drew:

Graduate rates too low, dropout rates too high

Even so, an education expert considers Nevada a “state on the move” to improvement

Sam Morris

A summit in November drew educators to talk about dropout prevention. From left are Louise Helton, state director of Communities in Schools Nevada, Sam Drew, associate director of the National Dropout Prevention Center, and Gene Hall of the Nevada Public Education Foundation.

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Friday, Jan. 2, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Nevada has one of the nation’s worst high school graduation rates. Sam Drew, associate director of the National Dropout Prevention Center, was the keynote speaker at a recent community summit in Las Vegas, one of 50 events nationwide funded through America’s Promise Alliance.

Education Week ranked Clark County as having the fifth-worst graduation rate at 44.5 percent. But School District officials say it’s closer to 60 percent. Which is right?

This isn’t just an issue for Clark County. The lack of a consistent method for calculating graduation rates and dropout rates is a problem nationwide. Most of the formulas don’t take into account students who find another way to graduate, either through an adult education program or GED. However you calculate it, no one disagrees that Nevada’s graduation rate is too low, and its dropout rate too high.

Has No Child Left Behind improved graduation rates?

The focus on testing and away from instruction may have actually exacerbated the problem. We need accountability, but we need to go about it in a way that supports students and moves them in greater numbers toward graduation.

What are some of the financial factors of the dropout crisis?

There’s a huge cost to the community as a whole. A high dropout rate means more people who need health care and social services, often at the taxpayers’ expense.

What works?

The keys are what we call the “three R’s.” Rigor — a student who is challenged academically is more likely to succeed. Relevance — students need to be able to relate what they’re learning to their own lives. Relationships — a student must have a support network of caring adults at home and in the school setting.

What steps would you recommend Nevada lawmakers consider?

States have tried all sorts of things — tying school attendance to eligibility for a driver’s license, citing parents for kids’ truancy. They work in the short term but then the effectiveness fades. Nevada lawmakers need to know there are no quick fixes.

Are there any signs of progress in Clark County?

Communities in Schools is doing a great deal to leverage public support, and that’s vital. I am enthused by the work being done here. If Nevada has the lowest graduation rate now, it’s certainly a state on the move.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By dcoop

1/2/09 at 8:13 a.m.

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How about getting the parents involved in the kids education process? You know, maybe a parent reading to the kid or asking their son/daughter what they leaned in school, maybe helping them with their homework, and being involved with the school. How about working with the teachers as a team. You know making sure the kid(s) understand the importance of a good education. This can be done by providing re-enforcement of the lesson plans, supporting the teachers and maybe showing up at school activities and teachers conferences. Wow, none of these ideas cost any more money. I followed this plan and my kid graduated in the top 10% of his class and is doing very well in college now.
By really

1/2/09 at 10:23 a.m.

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First off these kids need a reason to come to school. As a middle school teacher they need to see real life applications. Bring back Business and Vocational Education. What about wood, auto and metal shops. Show these kids how what they are learning in their core classes apply to real life.

Stop the push that everyone needs to go to college it is not the one bill fits all. The auto mechanic makes over 70,000 show me a college grad that can do that right out of college?

Who will fix and build our houses? Some kids like working with their hands and minds give them the same opportunites and these "college bound: students.

Many students have shown that the drop out rate will go down if these kids are given releavane and are excited to come to school.

I teach Vocational Ed in another state and I have kids that are trouble in al other classes but in mine are model students and get A's while failing other classes. I ask why, and the answer I get is you make learning fun and what I use in your class I can get a job with. These kids do not realize that they are using the very same Math, English and reading skills to create projects in my class that they are learning in the core classes.

Of course the education community does not see the usefullness of Business/Vocational Education that is why we are a dying breed!

These big wigs inthe think tanks better wise up along with these know it all adminstrators who have never spent a day in the classroom or for that matter limited time.

Bring back Business/Vocational Education and stop complaining!
By CCSDTeacher

1/2/09 at 11:33 a.m.

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If a student drops out of high school, he/she should not be permitted to take on a full-time job or receive a driver's license. It's a simple solution to a major problem. Perhaps if employers started looking at a potential employee in this way, we could keep students in school. And for those who drop out and wish to get a "freebie" diploma from adult ed, there should be a "pay-as-you-learn" cost associated with that privilege. Students drop out for the silliest of reasons -- "I am bored." "The teacher doesn't like me." "I don't need this in my life." As long as we allow this type of behavior to occur, we will have a society that doesn't value education.
By bishop666

1/2/09 at 1:30 p.m.

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I like CCSDTeacher's idea about preventing teens from receiving driver's licenses if they are drop outs. Preventing them from getting jobs probably won't work because they'll find other sources of revenue (ie robbing people and/or selling drugs). Also, illegal immigrants crowd our schools, making the educational experience of children that SHOULD be here very difficult. Most of these illegals are into gang activity and bring this element into our schools.
By stevem

1/2/09 at 3:21 p.m.

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As long as a girl can make $500 - $600 per night stripping and a guy can make $300 - $400 per night as a valet at the strip club, we'll have dropouts.

95% of the jobs in Las Vegas require no college degree.

You want better schools? Tell the mayor to stop acting like a 4 year old with his "I want a pro sports team" tantrum and start acting like an adult and get some REAL companies and businesses in this town.
By really

1/2/09 at 5:33 p.m.

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Ref: Stevem Interesting comment I must say. On a positive note, the Broward County (Fort Lauderdale Schools) has courses in their Business/Vocational Education departments that train students how to repair slot machines and do a lot of the technicial and electrical work at the casinos on Florida. Grduation rates have gone up as well
So I ask where is Clark County when it comes to making our students ready for the jobs in the city. Clark County has so much more than other areas, what about chefs, cooks etc. The possibilities are endless once you get all these big resorts to partner with the system.

Folks need to value education and not sports teams and the players!!!
By starrynite7

1/2/09 at 6:34 p.m.

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I believe the problem starts in the home. Parents need to value education and take an active stance in their children's education. Many parents don't check student's agenda each night to see if they are doing there work. If parents don't value education, then students will get bored with school and lose interest. Drop-out rates are also high because students miss a lot of school and then they miss out on the basic information that they need to succeed in high school, like basic grammar, multiplication tables etc. When they start high school they feel over whelmed and then they drop out. Teen pregnancies are also a problem and drug abuse among teens. We really need to go to the source and work with parents.
By unlvalum07

1/6/09 at 11:35 a.m.

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As research indicates students are hindered by multiple problems, which have been highlighted by multiple commenters: apathetic parents, a lack of interest in their studies, self-doubt, poorly funded schools, and unfortunately overworked teachers.

However, the recommendation to "Bring back Business/Vocational Education" would be a poor decision to channel students into vocational labor. Yes, the students will have the possibility of earning 50-70k/year with little formal education. But, this method has been tested for over 200 years in the U.S. educational system; continuously filtering low-income and minority students into 2 year and vocational programs.

As you read this...you will state..."they don't care about education and/or understand the value of education" and so on....read this book:

Ellen Condliffe Lagemann (2000) An Elusive Science: The Troubling History of Education Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

My comments are founded on 1) being a former pupil enrolled in clark county; 2) a 2007 graduate of unlv; and 3) a current graduate student at ohio state university studying education.

Lastly, the comments about "illegals" being primarily gang members and a distraction in school is filled with xenophobic feelings and a misunderstanding of that community. It would be safe to assume not all "illegals" are gang members or nuisances. If so, why would we allow them to build our homes, clean our hotel rooms, and other duties that require menial labor?

Thanks.