CSBA welcomes new dropout data—with caveats 

CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin welcomed the progress in data-driven education represented by the release this week of new school dropout estimates. He cautioned that flaws in the new system remain, however, and he called for greater cooperation to address the difficulties that lead students to leave school.

“CSBA is pleased that California has finally developed a system to begin tracking students over time. This data will help inform both local and state policy to ensure that the needs of students are met,” Plotkin said after state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell released figures Wednesday showing a statewide dropout rate of 24.2 percent.

The statistic comes from a new statewide tracking system that relies on Statewide Student Identifier numbers the state Department of Education began issuing to public school students in 2006. Years in development, the system remains in the early stages of application, and state officials concede that more work is needed to refine the methodology and to glean more information from the data.

In addition, the numbers are subject to interpretation—and misinterpretation, as Plotkin pointed out.

“We take strong exception with the characterization of all students who do not graduate within four years as dropouts. School districts work tirelessly to engage students beyond the fourth year of high school, through a fifth and sixth year of study and adult education programs,” Plotkin said. “Students who maintain their enrollment in school to earn needed credits or to pass the high school exit exam should in no way be considered ‘dropouts.’ ”

Continuation schools especially skew the numbers. These schools serve students who are at greatest risk of dropping out. The new tracking system puts some continuation school dropout rates as high as 191 percent, in the case of one school. Local education officials have until Aug. 29 to submit corrected data that can yield more reliable calculations.

Whatever the accurate figures are, the dropout problem is serious—not just for the students and the schools that serve them, but also for the larger society, and Plotkin stressed that concerted efforts are needed to ensure that all children receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success.

“Schools should not bear the sole responsibility when students do not complete their high school education,” Plotkin said. “This responsibility falls on all segments of society, including education.”

Related links:

• Read a press release on the dropout rate with a link to the data @ www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr08/yr08rel94.asp.
• Review the procedure for submitting corrected data @ www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/ds/certpolicy.asp.