I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to authorize and maintain dropout prevention and reentry by challenging all students to attain their highest academic potential through schoolwide programs proven effective in dropout prevention and reentry.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT
The Moorhead School Board recognizes that understanding and designing school curricula to meet the needs of potential dropouts is part of its mission to provide education for all students.
Moorhead Area Public Schools (MAPS) shares a role with the community in addressing at-risk students by developing a dropout prevention plan, supporting student services, referral programs, and dropout recovery.
III. PROCEDURES
A. MAPS administration, counselors, and the alternative program director shall review issues regarding students at risk and make efforts to find ways to provide alternatives for students to successfully continue their educational programs.
B. Under Minnesota's compulsory education requirements, any student under the age of 17 must attend school. If a student who is 17 years old seeks to withdraw from school, the student and the student's parent and/or guardian must attend a meeting with school personnel (counselor, principal, alternative education director) to discuss educational opportunities available to the student, including alternative education opportunities.
C. The Moorhead High School building administrator shall ensure that students wishing to withdraw shall comply with statutes. Documentation, including signatures of parents and students who withdraw from school, alternatives considered and reasons for withdrawal from school, shall be kept as part of the student's file. Documentation of efforts to contact families shall be included in the files.
D. The Instruction and Curriculum Advisory Committee (ICAC) shall annually:
1. review the number of dropouts of school-age students in the district and the reason for the dropout;
2. review graduation rates; and
3. review programs or courses of action to meet the needs of dropouts and potential dropouts.
IV. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
1. All students must be periodically assessed in order to determine their educational progress;
2. School scheduling must be flexible to allow for daily alternative curricular interventions to meet the student's identified needs (Response to Intervention);
3. Out-of-school experiences must complement and be coordinated with other curriculum-based interventions;
4. Teachers must receive ongoing, intensive, professional development in a variety of educational strategies to successfully implement those interventions;
5. Parents must be informed and involved throughout the assessment/intervention process, and
6. Appropriate resources will be provided to support all students as they make continuous progress.
Legal References:
Minn. Stat. 120A.22 (Compulsory Instruction)
The Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Part H - School Dropout Prevention, Sections 1801 and 1802, U.S. Department of Education
Cross Reference:
Moorhead School Board Policy 515: School District Student Attendance