Webinar To Discuss Youth Employment and Education Links
On January 15, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. E.T., the Division of Youth Services of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workforce Investment will host the Webinar "Linking Youth to Employment and Education through Community Service." This 90-minute session, which will feature John Foster-Bey, Corporation for National and Community Service and Sally Prouty, The Corps Network, will examine how community service programs can link disconnected youth to education and the workforce through community service. To obtain further information about the Webinar and register online, visit: http://www.workforce3one.org/public/webinars/details.cfm?id=257.
Applications Invited for Grants To Reduce Alcohol Abuse in Secondary Schools
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools is seeking applicants for its Grants To Reduce Alcohol Abuse Program. The announcement was published in the January 3, 2008, issue of the Federal Register. The program provides grants to local educational agencies to develop and implement innovative and effective programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools. The application deadline is February 19, 2008. For further information about this funding opportunity, see the Federal Register Notice at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-1/010308a.html.
Pennsylvania presents dropout prevention strategies at the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky
On October 30, 2007, at the 2007 national dropout conference Guiding All Students to the Winner's Circle: Rigor, Relevance, Relationships in Louisville Kentucky, representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Center for Schools and Communities, and Successful Students' Partnership grantee representatives from Shenandoah Valley and William Penn School Districts shared information about effective dropout prevention strategies currently being implemented in Pennsylvania. General information was given regarding dropout and truancy prevention efforts within the Commonwealth; the two school districts' focused their presentation on academic enrichment strategies - including tutoring, credit retrieval, summer enrichment, service learning, and a comprehensive district-wide reform approach. For more information about the National Dropout Prevention Network and upcoming professional development events, go to www.dropoutprevention.org
Center for Schools and Communities presents at National Dropout Prevention Network Conference
Center for Schools and Communities Education Mentoring/Dropout Prevention Coordinator Lynda Long along with Pennsylvania Department of Education Student Services Advisor Drew Schuckman presented a workshop at the 18th Annual National Dropout Prevention Network Conference. The workshop session highlighted effective dropout prevention strategies being implemented in Pennsylvania with particular focus on high school reform, truancy reduction and facilitating youth-school-parent-community connections. The conference was held in San Antonio, Texas October 21-25, 2006.
The following resources were referenced or used during the workshop:
- High School Reform, Truancy Reduction and Facilitating Connections powerpoint presentation
- Reinventing the American High School handout (position paper of the Association for Career and Technical Education, January 2006)
- Parent Involvement Strategies handout
- Program Strategies brochure
- Sobering Facts handout
- The Silent Epidemic (A report by the Civic Enterprises in Association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, March 2006)
- Reasons Students Drop Out workshop attendee feedback
- Ways to Facilitate Connections workshop attendee feedback
New Resources
"Diplomas Count: Ready for What? Preparing Students for College, Careers, and Life After High School," released June 12, 2007, states that "today's high school graduates are entering a world in which they'll need at least some college to gain access to decent-paying careers." The report draws on two national databases to examine the distribution of jobs nationally and within each state, as well as the related education and pay levels. For more information, go to: www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/06/12/40exec.h26.html?print=1
In conjunction with Communities in Schools, Inc., the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network published "Dropout Risk Factors and Exemplary Programs: A Technical Report" in May 2007. This extensive report, which included a literature review of 44 different studies related to school dropout, examines the key risk factors for school dropout and also provides information from exemplary programs and best practices. The report can be found at: http://www.dropoutprevention.org/resource/major_reports/communities_in_schools.htm
Toolkit on Student Attendance and Truancy Reduction
The PA Department of Education will be releasing a new resource – the Toolkit on Student Attendance and Truancy Reduction. The toolkit contains: a new Basic Education Circular (BEC) on the subject of truancy, best practices in truancy reduction, sample letters and brochures, job descriptions for truancy officers in school systems, examples of truancy reduction technology and student attendance systems, and quick reference materials that can be used by anyone interested in addressing truancy, including magisterial district judges, schools, community-based organizations, and parents. Specific guidelines are provided that focus attention on truancy reduction at the earliest level in an attempt to curb absenteeism from the start of every child’s education. This resource will be available as a CD-ROM and also through the Internet. Watch for further details on accessing this document.