TITLE 16

Education

CHAPTER 16-67.1

Rhode Island High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2007 [See Title 16

Chapter 97 – The Rhode Island Board Of Education Act]

SECTION 16-67.1-2



   § 16-67.1-2  Targeted dropout prevention

program. –

(a) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall

work with the school districts that have the lowest high school graduation

rates. The department shall incorporate into its progressive support and

intervention specific dropout prevention strategies, target resources, and

gather data that will include graduation rates and educational outcomes in all

Rhode Island schools.



   (b) The department shall develop specific methods of targeted

intervention or identify appropriate existing methods for school districts that

have a dropout rate greater than fifteen percent (15%) as determined by the

department of elementary and secondary education. These interventions methods

may include:



   (1) Early intervention for students who fail Algebra I or any

ninth grade math class and have insufficient credits to be promoted;



   (2) Alternative programs designed to reengage dropouts

including dual enrollment courses at the community college level;



   (3) Increased availability of advanced placement courses;



   (4) Offering full course fee waivers for students eligible

for free and reduced lunches, when enrolled in dual credit courses;



   (5) Flexible programs for older students who are currently

not enrolled;



   (6) Comprehensive supplemental education programs for middle

school students who are below grade level in reading and math;



   (7) Teacher advisories and other supports that are designed

to specifically address the needs of youth most at risk of dropping out of

school;



   (8) Strategies that are specifically designed to improve high

school graduation rate of teens at highest risk for dropping out, including

youth in the foster care system, pregnant and parenting youth, English as a

second language learners, and teens with special education needs; and



   (9) Communicating with parents and students about the

availability of local afterschool programs and the academic enrichment and

other activities the programs offer.



   (c) The department shall also gather the following data to

ensure that all programs are research-based and data-driven and use such data

for continuous program improvement:



   (1) The total number of high school suspensions related to

truancy;



   (2) Total number of students enrolled in alternative programs;



   (3) Total number of students who have been reenrolled in

programs with flexible schedules or community college programs;



   (4) Total number of freshmen who have personal literacy plans

(PLPs);



   (5) Total number of students who have failed Algebra I or

ninth grade math;



   (6) Total number of students who are repeating the ninth

grade;



   (7) Total number of students receiving remedial programming

in the ninth grade; and



   (8) The percentage of children in the care of DCYF who do not

graduate from high school.



   (d) In school districts involved in progressive support

intervention the department of elementary and secondary education shall prepare

and submit each year a written report that documents:



   (1) The outcomes of the dropout prevention strategies to

date, at the school district level; and



   (2) How the school district dropout prevention strategies and

activities will be modified, based on the data.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2007, ch. 226, § 1.)