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by Paul Socolar
With thousands of Philadelphia students dropping out each year, government agencies need to work with the School District and community organizations to construct a “web of supports” for struggling students, several speakers testified to Pennsylvania's House Education Committee at a March 29 hearing.
Education Committee Co-chair James Roebuck, who represents West Philadelphia, said the legislative hearing was aimed at determining what kinds of interventions are effective with dropouts.
“There is no one intervention that is going to solve the problem,” maintained Laura Shubilla, director of the nonprofit Philadelphia Youth Network, which is spearheading a local collaborative to coordinate and strengthen efforts in the city on the problem of out-of-school youth.
Shubilla, like others who testified, called on legislators to support “a system of interventions” with out-of-school youth and struggling students. She said these youth require a variety of supports, including “early prevention, incentives, and multiple pathways” to pursue their education.
Other testimony from community advocates, policy experts, and School District CEO Paul Vallas seemed in agreement that while a complete, accurate count of dropouts is difficult, the scope of the problem is massive - and a multifaceted, community-wide response is required to address it.
Terms such as “crisis” and “epidemic” were used by speaker after speaker to characterize the dropout situation and its impact on cities such as Philadelphia.
“Every day in my community, I see what 'out-of-school youth' looks like,” said parent activist Dolores Shaw, vice chair of the Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project, an alliance of faith-based and community groups. “I see it when I pass numbers of youth on any particular corner - from the age of 12 on.”
“Clearly these young people need to be in school,” Shaw told the legislators.
“But they're left to their own devices,” Shaw added. She observed that as a result, youth who could be contributing to their communities often end up causing harm to the community.
The House committee held the hearing at Community College of Philadelphia in connection with a House bill introduced by Roebuck that would require schools to interview students who have stopped attending regularly to find out to find out why.
Shelly Yanoff, executive director of the child advocacy group Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), applauded the committee hearings for highlighting “an issue that has been so hidden and so invisible for so long.” A just-released PCCY report calls the problem of out-of-school youth an “invisible epidemic.”
Yanoff attributed the invisibility of out-of-school youth in part to lack of consistency and care in how school systems count dropouts and also noted that child welfare and juvenile justice agencies serve many struggling students but are not charged with monitoring their educational progress toward high school graduation.
Yanoff, Shaw, and Shubilla were part of a large panel of speakers from organizations belonging to the Youth Transitions Collaborative, a local alliance of education, advocacy, and community organizations partnering with the School District and city agencies to collect and analyze data and use it to stem the flow of dropouts in the city.
This collaborative in Philadelphia is part of a national foundation-funded effort in five cities to keep track of how many students leave school each year, to implement cross-system strategies to keep students in school, and to provide educational options for youth who have left school. The cities were selected both for their previous work on the issue of out-of-school youth and for their potential for broad-based partnerships.
By June, the collaborative in Philadelphia expects to release a report with extensive data analysis accurately detailing the scope of the dropout problem locally.
An official figure of how many students drop out annually is provided by the School District to the state. The count by the District in 2004-05 was 5,550 dropouts - up 4 percent from one year earlier.
But this count is widely believed to reflect only a fraction of the full spectrum of out-of-school youth in Philadelphia. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University have been examining student data from the School District and other government agencies to offer a more complete picture.
At least two significant categories of youth - each believed to number in the thousands in Philadelphia - are not captured in the dropout reports compiled by the state.
The count omits the many students who have left the School District but whose whereabouts cannot be determined. Nor does the state's dropout definition account for thousands of students who are still enrolled in the District but attend sporadically if at all.
“All the numbers out there underestimate the size of the problem,” District CEO Vallas noted in his testimony.
Vallas told the House committee the District would not be successful in tackling the issue “unless we deal with this transitory population of students who do not show up in the dropout statistics but are for all practical purposes academic dropouts - who simply drift away.”
Other speakers described the inability of the school system and other agencies to address the individual challenges of so many students who have fallen off track and yet still have aspirations of getting an education and succeeding in life.
Shubilla of the Philadelphia Youth Network spoke of the perspective she gained when her office phone number was inadvertently listed on a flyer distributed to hundreds of students who had been placed on a waiting list for an alternative high school program for youth with truancy problems.
She noted that she was flooded with calls from students who had a wide range of needs and in many cases has already “knocked on many doors” but weren't getting adequate help navigating the city to find the specific services they needed.
From talking with these youth, Shubilla said she concluded, “The strategies have to be as varied as the stories that the young people tell.”
“Some students had fallen off track and needed a short-term approach to going back to school,” Shubilla said. “Some had situations where they weren't attending school regularly - maybe they were teen parents, or maybe they were in the juvenile justice system. Some were older out-of-school youth who were pretty close to graduation and needed some kind of intervention for that last five or six credits. A large number were 17-year-olds who had dropped out at a ninth-grade level, and they were the young people we had the most difficulty finding options for.”
Policy recommendations put before the committee included providing more counseling, changing state attendance laws, and funding programs that would offer students multiple educational pathways.
The committee heard testimony about a 2005 Philadelphia Education Fund study finding that many of the students likely to drop out can be identified based on their school problems as early as sixth grade, suggesting that dropout prevention work in the middle grades is critical.
Parent Carmen Lebron of EPOP told the committee about the struggles she went through with her son between sixth and ninth grades before he finally dropped out of school, and the difficulty she had finding help.
“We need to have professionals to help kids with the alternatives to dropping out of school,” Lebron stated. “Until then, we cannot expect a real change. Sometimes all it takes is someone who cares.”
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Ted Kirsch recommended changing state laws on compulsory school attendance that now allow students to leave school as early as age 17 or even younger under certain circumstances.
Shaw of EPOP, whose son left high school without graduating, agreed that 17-year old shouldn't have an “opt-out.”
“Often, when you as a parent are trying to get a 17-year-old out of the house to go to school, the District does not offer you a lot of support. When a child reaches the age of 17, you as a parent are left holding the bag,” Shaw said.
Other recommendations for state policy changes backed by the Youth Transitions Collaborative included the following:
-That the state quickly implement a proposed student tracking system that assigns each student in Pennsylvania a unique number - “an education identifier” - which would help count dropouts because students could be more easily followed when they leave a school or a school system;
-That the state develop financial incentives for districts that successfully re-enroll students who have dropped out and for schools that retain their students throughout the school year;
-That the state provide additional financial support for alternative educational programs as well as develop new programs that support rapid credit accumulation, credit recovery, and accumulation of post-secondary credits;
-That the state Department of Public Welfare track and regularly report on the educational progress of children in the dependency and delinquency systems;
-That the state provide additional funding to support social workers and counselors in schools that serve large numbers of children in out-of-home placement and also in schools with low promotion rates.
For previous Notebook coverage of out-of-school youth, see the Fall 2005 edition.
Contact Notebook editor Paul Socolar at 215-951-0330 x107 or pauls@thenotebook.org.
In March, the School Reform Commission approved the following resolutions:
-Adoption of a “Lump Sum Budget” with anticipated revenues and expenses for 2006-07, as required by the city's Charter.
The $2.04 billion budget reflects an increase in expenditures of $67 million (or 3 percent) over the current year. District officials said the 2006-07 budget has to address increased costs for employee benefits, debt service, and charter schools that together far exceed the anticipated increases in revenues.
-Authorization to sell the former Durham School, located at 16th and Lombard Streets, for $6 million.
The Durham School in Center City was closed in 2003 due to low enrollment and high repair costs and was put up for sale last year.
-Recognition of the continuing work of the Philadelphia Home and School Council and Home and School Associations.
The SRC resolution urges District staff to support the work of these parent organizations. It goes on to recognize “the unique role of PHSC in working with parents and caregivers and in educating District staff on the benefits of parent participation, and recognizes the unique role of PHSC in serving as the parent voice on official District committees and commenting on plans and policies.”
-Ratification of a $121,470 contract with the College Board to offer training to teachers of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and AP coordinators, and to prepare students for the May 2006 AP exams.
The District has steadily expanded its college-level AP course offerings and increased student participation, but test performance has lagged. End-of-course AP tests are graded on a scale of 1-5, with '3' generally considered to be a “passing”grade. Of the 2541 AP tests taken by Philadelphia students last May, 42 percent received the lowest possible grade of '1', while only 37 percent of students scored '3' or higher.
-Acceptance of a $1 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the teaching of American history.
The grant supports professional development for teachers on issues in American history up to 1920, and it includes funds for partnerships with universities and museums to conduct professional development activities.
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Lauren Jacobs now staffs the Philadelphia chapter of the Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform . . . . Justin DiBerardinis has left his position as organizer at the Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project to become the organizer for Good Schools Pennsylvania covering Eastern Pennsylvania . . . . Harvey Chism has left his position as director of civic engagement with the Philadelphia Education Fund, returning to the Philadelphia Youth Network to work with the School District on re-designing the Educational Options Program . . . . Brendon Comer is project director of the new Gateway to College program at Community College of Philadelphia . . . . Vincent Thompson has left his position as deputy director of the School District's Office of Communications to become chief of staff for City Councilman Juan Ramos.
April 8: YMCA Healthy Kids Day. Five YMCAs across Philadelphia open their doors to families with information and activities about exercise, nutrition, and fire safety. For hours and locations, visit YMCA of Philadelphia.
April 10: National Day of Action on Immigrant Rights. 12 - 2 p.m. Love Park, 16th & JFK Blvd. Philadelphia “Day Without an Immigrant” coalition organizes rally against the Sensenbrenner-King Bill and for comprehensive, humane immigration policy. For more information, visit www.undiasin.com or call 484- 410-9992.
April 12: School Reform Commission Planning Meeting. 1 p.m. School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 400 N. Broad Street. To register to speak, call 215-400-4040 by 4:30 pm the day before the meeting.
April 18: Mural Arts Dedication. 9:45 a.m. FitzPatrick Elementary School, 11061 Knights Road, Philadelphia. The Mural Arts Program and the Philadelphia School District have entered into a unique partnership that will create and/or restore 100 murals at school sites over the next five years. Muralist Bernie Wilke led the school in the creation of this indoor mural with the theme "From Sea to Shining Sea."
April 19: School Reform Commission Action Meeting. 1 p.m. School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 400 N. Broad Street. To register to speak, call 215-400-4040 by 4:30 pm the day before the meeting.
April 19: Film Premiere, Invisible Light. 6:30 p.m. New Freedom Theatre, 1346 North Broad Street. The Big Picture Alliance, which teaches teens filmmaking and media arts, celebrates its eight-year partnership with Dobbins High School with the premiere of the 2005 video, Invisible Light, along with shorts from the entire seven years of filmmaking programs at Dobbins. Past and present students of Dobbins High School will be recognized for their achievements. For information, call 610-779-2901 or email sgarber@bigpicturealliance.org.
April 21-22: National Youth Service Day 2006. NYSD invites youth up to age 25 to work side by side with hundreds of other people their age clearing blighted lots in neglected neighborhoods and working at local YMCAs. To sign up a group, contact Greater Philadelphia Cares, 215-564-4544.
April 22: College Open House. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 4261 N. 5th Street. Esperanza College of Eastern University (formerly Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education) session provides application and financial aid information and placement testing for Associate of Arts programs in business, communications, or elementary education. Programs are offered in English and Spanish. RSVP at 215-324-0746 x249 or neche@eastern.edu.
April 22: First Annual Harambee Institute Art Expo and Auction. 12 - 3 p.m. Harambee Institute of Science and Technology, 638-40 N. 66th Street, The Art Expo and Auction, sponsored by the school's Kikuyu Family (Kindergarten), is a display of handmade items. For more information, call 215-472-8770.
April 27: PCCY Super Party. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Please Touch Museum, 210 North 21st Street. This will also be the kickoff event for the Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth 25th Anniversary Celebration. Presentation of Wilbur Hobbs “True Friend of Children Award” to R. Duane Perry, executive director of The Food Trust, and Dorothy Johnson-Speight, founder of Mothers In Charge. Tickets: $50. For more information, see www.pccy.org.
April 27 and 28: Multimedia production of Free: The Untold Stories. 10 a.m. Church of the Advocate, 18th and Diamond Sts. School matinee performances based on the new young adult nonfiction book Free! Great Escapes from Slavery on the Underground Railroad, by Lorene Cary. Join Art Sanctuary's North Stars for this live drama infused with dynamic poetry, rap, dance, and music. $5/student. To reserve space for a class, email Amir Joshua at ajoshua@artsanctuary.org.
April 28: Forum on early care and education as an economic development strategy. 12:00 - 2:30 p.m., Federal Reserve Bank, 100 N. 6th Street. Presentation and panel discussion with Rob Grunewald, Federal Reserve Bank analyst and national expert on the economic impact of early childhood education. Sponsored by United Way, the Pennsylvania Economy League, and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. RSVP by April 19 to Matt Rubin at 215-665-2516 or mattr@uwsepa.org.
April 29: Conference: Everyone is Special - Everyone has a Need. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 Lehigh Avenue. Special needs conference sponsored by the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities, Health and Human Services Committee. RSVP to Gertrude Teat, 215-683-4037.
April 29: College Open House. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 4261 North 5th Street. Esperanza College of Eastern University (formerly Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education) session provides application and financial aid information and placement testing for Associate of Arts programs in business, communications, or elementary education. Programs are offered in English and Spanish. RSVP at 215-324-0746 x249 or neche@eastern.edu.
April 29: Parkway FunDay. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Logan Circle, Ben Franklin Parkway. The Franklin Institute presents science fun with make-and-take crafts and a popular science show on stage. Community organizations will contribute to this free event for the public. For more information, visit www.parkwaycouncilfoundation.org/news.html.
Every Thursday: Talk radio program with Sandra Dungee Glenn, School Reform Commission member. 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. WURD 900 AM. Call-in number: 215-426-1310.
School
Calendar
April 10-14: Schools Closed for Spring Recess. (Administrative Offices closed on Good Friday, April 14)
April 24: High school report cards issued.
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