The National Education Association has developed 12 action steps to address the dropout crises in the United States.
NEA Plan for Dropouts
The rate of dropouts in the United States is of great concern to everyone. Teachers, especially, are looking for solutions. What can be done to keep students in school? The NEA, National Education Association, has offered a plan.
12 Dropout Action Steps
Mandate high school graduation or equivalency as compulsory for everyone below the age of 21. The minimum education required today is a high school diploma. The military does not want high school dropouts. This had been an alternative in the past but not anymore. While most states require that students attend school until age 16 or 17, the NEA is proposing school until age 21 or until diploma is received.
Establish high school graduation centers for students 19-21 years old. Students that are older often want to avoid the embarrassment of returning to school. Past issues still haunt them and divert attention away from education. Graduation centers would have counselors and specialized instruction for students that had not been successful in the traditional high schools.
Make sure students receive individual attention. For many students, attending classes in classrooms of 38 students and in unsafe schools lacked the attention they needed to be successful. Once older, these students have had to take on adult responsibilities and the school hours are no longer workable. NEA suggests smaller classrooms, evening, summer and weekend formats to build on what was learned during the day.
Expand graduation options. For students that are not successful in literature or advanced math, these subjects may prevent them from graduating. NEA suggests creative alternatives like working with technical colleges for dual credit allowing students to earn a diploma and receive college credit.
Increase career education and workforce readiness programs. Students often get discouraged because what they are learning seems to have no relevance to the real world. If students had a stronger connection to 21st century careers, they would be able to see what skills they will need.
Act early so students do not drop out. Prevention is better than acting after a crises. NEA suggests, universal preschools, full-day kindergarten, strong elementary programs, middle school programs that address causes for dropping out, access to algebra, science and other classes that ensure success
Involve families in students’ learning at school and at home. Encourage parents to become involved in their children’s education both at school and at home.
Monitor students’ academic progress in school. Students should be monitored effectively and interventions implemented long before a child is failing.
Monitor, accurately report, and work to reduce dropout rates. Accurate reporting is necessary. Some schools report only the number of students that don’t graduate in the senior year and ignore those that have dropped out in the freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Involve the entire community in dropout prevention. The community should be encouraged to allow time for employees to attend parent-teacher conferences, work schedules for students that allow them time for sleep and homework, volunteerism and community-led projects, and real world learning experiences for students showing relevance.
Make sure educators have the training and resources they need to prevent students from dropping out. professional development on working with at-risk students, up-to-date textbooks, computers, information technology, safe and modern schools.
Make high school graduation a federal priority. Ask Congress to invest $10 billion over the next decade to support dropout prevention programs for states that mandate high school graduation.
Changes Ahead?
If the NEA plan is put into action and funded properly, it will change schools as they are today. If it is not put into action, schools will continue to have more of the same.
Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
The copyright of the article NEA Dropout Plan in Educational Issues is owned by Barbara Pytel. Permission to republish NEA Dropout Plan in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
