Breaking NewsSponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group
Subscribe: Home Delivery Special!
'Tragic proportion' of dropouts prompts panel ideas
Better data system, 'lighthouse districts' among suggestions.
By Deb Kollars - dkollars@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, February 28, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
A panel of educators, researchers and politicians on Wednesday announced 15 recommendations for reducing the state's serious and entrenched dropout problem.
The exact dropout tally is not known because the state does not have an adequate data collection and reporting system.
But according to the California Dropout Research Project, about 170,000 California ninth-graders in 2002-03 dropped out of high school or failed to graduate with their classes four years later. Only about two-thirds graduated on time, with rates even lower for African American, Latino and American Indian students. The trend repeats year after year, and costs the state billions in lost income and economic activity, as well as higher crime and welfare expenses, said Russell W. Rumberger, a University of California, Santa Barbara, professor who directs the project.
"The problem really is of tragic proportion," said Jack O'Connell, California's superintendent of public instruction. "It's too high. It's unacceptable. It absolutely must be addressed."
Rumberger and other members of the dropout research project recommended a range of solutions Wednesday, including better state data collection, the creation of "lighthouse districts" to research and model successful anti-dropout programs, re-examining graduation requirements, and reforming middle schools to stop early patterns of academic failure.
State Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, who served on the panel, said Wednesday that reducing the state's dropout rate is his top legislative priority. "For me, it begins with accountability," he said, noting that the state – after years of delays – must develop an accurate system for tracking individual student progress.
Although some of the report's recommendations may take longer to carry out because of the state's budget crisis, Steinberg said launching an effective data system for tracking dropouts and graduates should happen as soon as possible because without it, the state cannot effectively hold schools and districts accountable for improving.
Wednesday's report followed a study released last week by the same group that found a disproportionate number of California's dropouts come from nontraditional schools such as charters and continuation campuses.
About the writer:
- Call The Bee's Deb Kollars, (916) 321-1090.
Recommend this story at Yahoo! Buzz:
Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Most Popular
More Stories in Politics
- Bush vows not to leave California stranded as firefighting costs strain budget
- Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders meet on budget
- Dan Walters: Study confirms that peripheral canal is central to solving Delta water problems
- California agency reviews slow response to data security breach
- Majority in poll rejects gay marriage ban
RELATED STORIES
ON THE WEB
QUICK JOB SEARCH
News |
Sports |
Business |
Politics |
Opinion |
Entertainment |
Lifestyle |
Travel |
Blogs |
Cars |
Homes |
Jobs |
Classifieds/Shopping
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map | Advertise | Guide to The Bee | Bee Jobs | FAQs | RSS
Contact Us | e-edition | Subscribe | Manage Your Subscription | E-newsletters | Sacbeemail | Archives
sacbee.com | Sacramento.com | Capitol Alert | SacMomsClub.com | SacPaws.com | SacWineRegion.com
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St. P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 321-1000