Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/587184
track at-risk students, but the rollout has been problematic. It may be impossible to know exactly how many middle school students drop out before ninth grade, says Palacios, "but if you wait until they are in high school for dropout prevention, you've waited too long." "WE DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM" "If they've stopped coming to school, we don't give up on them," says Palacios. "We make every attempt to bring the child back to school." That means Palacios is constantly knock- ing on doors, talking to parents about the importance of school, handing out "truancy letters," arranging tutoring so youngsters catch up, and finding mental health services for those with emotional problems. Sometimes there are hearings with the district attorney's office. Returning to school isn't easy for truants, so it's important to be encour- aging and congratulate students for taking "baby steps," says Palacios. For example, when Damien arrives late after unexcused absences, she calls him into her office and says, "I'm so happy you're here," instead of scolding him. Pa re n t s a re a h u ge p a r t o f t h e p r o b l e m , s h e s h a r e s . S o m e f e e l g u i l t y b e c a u s e t h e h o m e e n v i - r o n m e n t i s u n s t a b l e , s o t h e y l e t t h e i r c h i l d s t ay h o m e a n d f e i g n i l l n e s s . S o m e t i m e s s h e a s k s f o r a doctor's note or has a school nurse confirm whether a child is really sick. "We try to stress that learning habits are important for getting these children ready for the workforce. My fear is that they won't be able to take care of themselves by holding a job or making decisions helpful to their success. I ask parents, 'If your child doesn't come to school, who's going to take care of him for the rest of his life? Who will provide for him?' I want them to think about that. In five years, it will be a reality." EARLY WARNING SYSTEM Why try? It's a philosophical question, and also the name of a unique intervention class for eighth-graders with atten- dance problems, low grades and behavioral issues at Willis Jepson Middle School in Vacaville. The WhyTry class, which focuses on increasing motivation and goal-setting, is part of the school's Early Warning System, which predicts and identifies at-risk students by looking at their GPA, attendance and demerits. The system's three tiers of interventions to get back on track are tutoring and mentoring, behavioral counseling, and WhyTry. A pilot California Department of Education program, • Build a positive school climate. Reward good behavior. • Foster connections. Let students know someone cares whether they show up. • Communicate with students and their families about the importance of attendance. • Learn about the strengths and challenges in your school community. Learn about community resources. • Collaborate with colleagues — nurses, counselors, social workers — to intervene when needed. • Alert school staff if a student misses more than two days. At Willis Jepson Middle School, Alyson Brauning teaches at-risk eighth-graders, focusing on goal- setting and motivation. to lower the dropout rate STRATEGIES 6 34 cta.org F E A T U R E