Drop Out Rates

2007 Legislative Actions Offer Hope

Through the Washington Learns effort and bills passed in the 2007 Legislative Session, progress is being made on teacher training, teacher pay, and new strategies to "personalize" learning to each student. These are steps in the right direction.

Policy makers also can and should invest in empowering families and the community at-large to more effectively coach, support, and advocate for Black children in public schools.  The Building Bridges for Success system described below is a good first step.

 

 

Highlight:

"Building Bridges For Success" Approved and Funded

Senate Bill 5497 passed both houses of the Legislature, received $5 million in the budget, and was signed into law by Gov. Gregoire on May 9, 2007.  The bill creates a grant program called “Building Bridges for Success” to help students who might drop out and those who already have.

 

The system’s goals will be to:

  • Identify individual students at-risk of dropping out from middle through high school
  • Make sure that someone steps in to help these students to keep them from dropping out and/or to help them continue their studies, if they already have dropped out
  • Put together a plan for educational success to help students who might drop out and/or have already dropped out
  • Offer alternative educational programs, like career and technical education and online learning
  • Provide a coach or mentor to each student, as needed
  • Provide staff to coordinate with community partners (including churches and non-profits) to provide seamless support for students

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction crafted the bill and will implement it.  Grant funds will go first to schools or districts with dropout and truancy rates above the statewide average. Students in foster care or involved with the juvenile justice system will be included.

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