Goals of redesign plan include reducing dropout rate

By Hank Bounds
State Superintendent of Education
June 19, 2006

One of the goals of the Redesigning Education for the 21 st Century Workforce in Mississippi is to reduce Mississippi's dropout rate by providing students with alternative school hours and the option of completing vocational and academic courses online. The plan also calls for utilizing a rigorous academic and vocational curriculum, a personalized learning environment and more options of study, including dual college credit.

The plan also includes strategies for creating a relevant connection between school and work. Studies have shown that one of the reasons students choose to drop out is that they fail to understand how they will use what they are learning in the classroom today in a job they will have tomorrow.

As noted in “Helping Students Graduate: A Strategic Approach to Dropout Prevention” by National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Executive Director Jay Smink and noted dropout prevention specialist Franklin P. Schargel, the Oregon Department of Education tracked a cohort of students for four years in the early nineties. By the end of that time period, 24.5 percent of the students dropped out before graduating.

“The most frequent reason given by students for deciding to leave was ‘irrelevant coursework,” cited Smink and Schargel. “Other reasons were peer pressure, teaching that didn't match student learning styles and teachers' lack of personal attention.”

Helping students to understand the connection between the classroom and the real world isn't easy and the same approach won't work for every student. The redesign plan includes several tactics for helping make the connection.

Workforce development and technology skills will be integrated in all secondary vocational courses during each curriculum revision process and a certified Rigor and Relevance teacher will serve on each writing team to enhance teaching strategies to include real-world applications. Each curriculum will include active learning techniques, co-operative learning, project-based learning and assessment strategies. Rigorous expectations and relevant teaching strategies will also be included.

Utilizing career pathways will also help students begin gaining specific skills necessary to work in numerous occupations sharing a common theme. This broad theme gives students a context for connecting what they are learning across a wide spectrum of academic subject areas. Designed to expand options and opportunities for all students, participating in a career pathway can be that spark that truly motivates a student to work hard to complete school. By helping them to understand better what career options are available as well as their own interests and abilities, the pathways help students develop goals and make career plans.

The seven pathways include:

Relevance is embedded throughout the secondary curriculum as specific strategies are developed and implemented in each academic curriculum. Teachers will have ready access online to proven lesson plans that provide a high level of skill mastery and relevance to the particular career. Online classes will be developed for introductory courses to assist districts in delivering appropriate instruction for all pathways.

Keeping kids in school to help them enjoy a brighter future is a key component of the plan. Helping them to envision their future and prepare them for it are essential ingredients for keeping them engaged and in school.

(Contact: Caron Blanton, APR, Director of Communications, 601-359-3706 .)