Maine’s Dropout Prevention Summit 2009 What we learned

The New 3 R's Promising Schools Where Everyone Matters

The Voice of Maine’s Youth Don’t call me a dropout

I am not… A Deadbeat A loser Someone who doesn’t care about my future Someone who is going no where I am a person

A Deadbeat

A loser

Someone who doesn’t care about my future

Someone who is going no where

I am a person

Am I still a deadbeat? I want to make something of myself I do have drive I don’t want to be just a number Now I know I am going to college I have a picture with me in my cap and gown holding my son, in a few years we will take another picture-this time my son will be wearing the cap and gown

I want to make something of myself

I do have drive

I don’t want to be just a number

Now I know I am going to college

I have a picture with me in my cap and gown holding my son, in a few years we will take another picture-this time my son will be wearing the cap and gown

The next time you hear the word dropout Think of the person Think of the situation Do what ever it takes

Think of the person

Think of the situation

Do what ever it takes

President Obama “… It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to complete and competitive education, from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. That is a promise we have to make to the children of America.”

“… It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to complete and competitive education, from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. That is a promise we have to make to the children of America.”

Weaving the strands of the summit together America’s Promise Alliance 5 Promises: Caring Adults Healthy Start Safe Places in and after school Opportunity to give back Marketable Skills Listen to our youth Honor youth and families history Avoid Labels Connect the dots: Create a plan

America’s Promise Alliance 5 Promises:

Caring Adults

Healthy Start

Safe Places in and after school

Opportunity to give back

Marketable Skills

Listen to our youth

Honor youth and families history

Avoid Labels

Connect the dots: Create a plan

Maine joined with 49 other states To make school completion a priority. You are part of a national movement to give all students the opportunity to graduate from high school, ready for college and work You made history!

To make school completion a priority. You are part of a national movement to give all students the opportunity to graduate from high school, ready for college and work

You made history!

Words from the Children’s Cabinet Multiple Pathways Drop the Jargon Cross system data sharing Focus on strengths and assets of our youth and their parents/caregivers Identify barriers (policy and practices) getting in way of success Keep pushing us—we will back you up when its possible

Multiple Pathways

Drop the Jargon

Cross system data sharing

Focus on strengths and assets of our youth and their parents/caregivers

Identify barriers (policy and practices) getting in way of success

Keep pushing us—we will back you up when its possible

Summit Weaving Exhibitors share supportive youth practices Participants figure out what Maine has and what it needs The Maine Dropout Prevention Plan is committed to paper.

Exhibitors share supportive youth practices

Participants figure out what Maine has and what it needs

The Maine Dropout Prevention Plan is committed to paper.

Supportive youth practices in the exhibit area Basic Core Strategies School and Community Early Interventions Making the Most of Instruction

Basic Core Strategies

School and Community

Early Interventions

Making the Most of Instruction

It even “snowed” in July Workgroups identified Strengths Needs Opportunities Worries Top priorities for the state and communities to tackle

Workgroups identified

Strengths

Needs

Opportunities

Worries

Top priorities for the state and communities to tackle

Giving up on students is not a productive solution for anyone-Robert Balfanz If we knew what to do to support our youth would we do it? The Outliers, Malcom Getwell Will we do it?

Giving up on students is not a productive solution for anyone-Robert Balfanz

If we knew what to do to support our youth would we do it?

The Outliers, Malcom Getwell

Will we do it?

You answered the call Are you ready to do Whatever it takes To get to 90% Graduation rate

Whatever it takes

To get to 90% Graduation rate

Next Steps Go back to your community Start conversations with youth, parents, teachers, agencies, businesses Hold a summit to rally your community to support positive youth development Use data to identify priorities Develop an effective plan Build strong partnerships to make lasting change happen

Go back to your community

Start conversations with youth, parents, teachers, agencies, businesses

Hold a summit to rally your community to support positive youth development

Use data to identify priorities

Develop an effective plan

Build strong partnerships to make lasting change happen

Thank You For your passion For your commitment For having faith and patience when the evidence of success takes time to see

For your passion

For your commitment

For having faith and patience when the evidence of success takes time to see