National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Volume 25 Number 1 NEWSLETTER Meeting Students’ Needs N A NATION WHERE MORE THAN 2,857 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DROP OUT OF SCHOOL EVERY DAY (CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND, 2014), THE ESTAB- LISHMENT OF, AND ENROLLMENT IN, ALTERNATIVE (OR NONTRADITIONAL) ISCHOOLS IS ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR DROPOUT CRISIS HE HALLMARKS . T OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION—SMALLER CLASS SIZES, INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION, CAREER-FOCUSED/SELF-PACED COURSEWORK, AND CLASSES TAUGHT BY INSTRUC- TORS CERTIFIED IN THEIR SUBJECT AREAS—HAVE NOT ONLY SERVED THE PURPOSE OF DROPOUT PREVENTION AND RECOVERY, BUT ARE ALSO IMPACTING THE DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION AT “TRADITIONAL” HIGH SCHOOLS. ontributors to our Alternative recover up to two years of academics Kevin Wells of COFFEE writes Education issue represent dif- in just one year. The program is not that his staff includes counselors and Cferent perspectives on the topic, easy.” social workers trained to intervene and are a few among many who exem- What alternative school students on behalf of youth pursuing their plify what works best and why. Further, are looking for—and find—in pursuit education in the face of PTSD, depres- our contributors share strategies and of their education is a critically impor- sion, learning disabilities, and other approaches that are not only research- tant sense of school belonging, confi- disorders. based, but can be replicated in other dence that the knowledge acquired— Our contributors are among the schools and districts as well. and required of them—has “real life” cadre of educators across the nation In this issue, our Program Profiles application upon graduation, and that who open the school doors each day spotlight two Massachusetts-based their learning environment is student- to welcome their students, to teach alternative schools—COFFEE (the centered and caring. and counsel them, and to meet them Cooperative Federation for Educational Family mobility can be particularly where their needs are. Alternative Experiences) in Oxford, and the Pea- challenging. Bedard points out that educators battle against dropout every body Learning Academy in Peabody. immigrant students often enroll, then day in every way they can—from lob- Located just 90 minutes and 80 miles return to their native countries for bying their communities and leaders apart, both institutions are commit- several months, returning to school for funding and in-kind support, to Alternative Education Alternative ted to providing the best in alternative again in June. They are then counted providing students with money for education, including rigorous individu- as “dropouts,” even though they were food or transportation to school, to alized curriculum, community service enrolled for less than 45 days of the afterschool tutoring and mentoring, or and career-skills components, and academic year. meeting with a parent to help cushion behavior and social skills education. In addition to mobility, Robert L. news a student cannot bear to deliver In many cases, alternative school stu- Eichorn, Principal of New Directions alone. dents must work more diligently and Alternative Education Center; and We are grateful to have educators be even more committed to complet- John Murray, Founder and CEO of like these in our schools—and as ing their high school education. AdvancePath Academics, discuss contributors to this Newsletter—and As Seith Bedard, Director of the other societal and demographic to them we say onward. Peabody Learning Academy states: challenges that impact dropout and “Students [in alternative schools] work increase the need for vital wrap- Reference harder in many ways…and that is not around services to provide additional Children’s Defense Fund. (2014). Each often recognized. [These] students… support for students in both alterna- day in America. Research Library. in many cases are years behind where tive and traditional school environ- Retrieved from www.childrensdefense. they should be academically. Students ments. These services involve mental org/library/each-day-in-america.html at our Academy work on a credit health and drug counseling, and sup- recovery program that allows [them] to port for pregnant and parenting teens. —Mark R. Cheatham Editor 2014 Crystal Star Winners he National Dropout Prevention Network’s Crystal Star Awards of TExcellence in Dropout Recovery, Intervention, and Prevention iden- tify and bring national recognition to outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of our mission to reduce school dropout and increase gradua- tion rates nationwide. This year, NDPN presented awards to a stellar slate of recipients who have brought national attention to the issue of dropout pre- vention, intervention, and recovery at The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, 24th and Governor Steven L. Beshear and First Lady the national, state, and local levels. former U.S. Secretary of Labor 2001- Jane Beshear, Commonwealth of Kentucky— In particular, the interventions of 2009—Recipient of Crystal Star Award of Recipients of the Crystal Star Award of these leaders and their abiding com- Excellence for Lifetime Achievement and Excellence for Distinguished Leadership mitment to education have served National Impact Service to help keep youth in school through graduation, and in several instances, have provided schools and districts throughout the country with effective research-based strategies that can be replicated and implemented on behalf of the students they teach. We are pleased to present this year’s Crystal Star Awards of Excellence winners. National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Seith Bedard, Director of the Peabody Kelly Tonsmeire, Director of the Alaska NEWSLETTER Learning Academy, Peabody, MA— Staff Development Network, Douglas, Recipient of Individual Crystal Star Award AK—Recipient of Individual Crystal The National Dropout Prevention Center/ of Excellence in Dropout Recovery, Star Award of Excellence in Dropout Network Newsletter is published quar- Intervention, and Prevention Recovery, Intervention, and Prevention terly by the National Dropout Preven- tion Center/Network. Your comments are always welcome. Please address mail to: Newsletter Editor National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Eugene T. Moore School of Education Clemson University 209 Martin Street Clemson, SC 29631-1555 Phone: 864-656-2599 Email: [email protected] Program Recipient—Crystal Star Award Program Recipient—Crystal Star Award Web: www.dropoutprevention.org of Excellence in Dropout Recovery, of Excellence in Dropout Recovery, Intervention, and Prevention, Mountain Intervention, and Prevention, Edmonton Editorial Staff Educational Charter High School, Catholic Schools, Alberta, Canada Cleveland, GA Raymond J. McNulty, Network Chair Sandy Addis, Interim Executive Director Editors: Mark R. Cheatham Cairen Withington Editorial Assistant: Peg Chrestman 2 National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Network Notes Dr. Sandy Addis Appointed and administered a variety of dropout as Dean of HEHD for 11 years until he Interim Executive prevention initiatives that include stepped down in 2014. Dr. Allen was out-of-school programs, counseling, selected for the Governor and Mrs. Dr. Sandy Addis has been named Interim Executive service-learning, and educator train- Richard W. Riley Award of Excellence Director of the ing and professional development. in Dropout Prevention in recognition National Dropout of his efforts, nationally and interna- Prevention Cen- Governor and Mrs. Richard tionally, to include the family and the ter by George J. W. Riley Award Presented to greater community as stakeholders Petersen, founding Dr. Lawrence R. and foot-soldiers in the campaign to dean of the Eugene eliminate dropout. The award was Allen presented at the organization’s 2015 T. Moore School Dr. Lawrence R. At-Risk Youth National FORUM in of Education at Allen, Professor and Myrtle Beach, SC. Clemson University. Dr. Addis suc- Dean Emeritus of the ceeds Dr. Elizabeth Reynolds, who College of Health, stepped down at the end of 2014. Education, and Hu- Solutions to the Dropout Dr. Addis has been a member of the man Development Crisis Board of NDPN and joined NDPC/N (HEHD) at Clemson University, received The second Tuesday of each month, as Associate Director in 2013. He has the Governor and Mrs. Richard W. Riley link to www.dropoutprevention.org/ more than four decades of experi- Award of Excellence in Dropout Preven- webcast at 3:30 PM ET for a free, hour- ence in public education, having been tion, given annually by the National long professional development video a teacher (K12 and postsecondary), Dropout Prevention Center. webcast. On April 14, Joshua Cramer, counselor, coach, alternative school Currently a Professor in the De- Director of Family Engagement for the principal, system-level administrator, partment of Parks, Recreation, and National Center for Families Learning, and director of a regional educational Tourism Management, Dr. Allen served will be our guest. service agency. Dr. Addis has designed Mark Your Calendars! Check out our Web site at www.dropoutprevention.org for more information. Alternative Education 3 A Vision for Exemplary Practices by Robert L. Eichorn ontraditional and alternative According to the NAEA, when incor- schools serve students who porated into alternative school design, Nrequire or thrive in environ- the 15 exemplary practices assure that ments other than traditional educa- high-quality educational services are tional settings. These learners