C ommitted to empowering learners of all ages to take an active role in improving their communities © Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved What’s So Great About Service Learning? 2009 Missouri Service-Learning Conference October 5-6, 2009 Communities Under Construction Joan Lennon Liptrot

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved National Dropout Prevention Center/Network 2 How many students do you think drop out of school each year in this country?

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved 3 Dropout Prevention: A National Issue Almost 1.2 million who should have graduated in 2006 did not leave school on time with a regular diploma Enough to fill more than 28,000 school buses (Alliance for Excellent Education website)

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved What do families and communities want from education? They want schools to develop students who: Master academic subjects, Love learning, Connect skills/learning to the real world, Practice good citizenship/civic engagement, Demonstrate leadership, Engage in problem solving and critical thinking, Are of good character, and Have positive self esteem/self image

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved “… students consistently rank components of service learning– such as the development of leadership skills, teaching how to be an involved citizen, working with others to address public issues, and making courses relevant to everyday life in communities – as more important to getting the most out of their high school experience than being involved with community service.” Engaged for Success, A Report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the National Conference on Citizenship, John M. Bridgeland, John J. DiIulio, Jr, &. Stuart C. Wulsin

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved What is “at-risk” ? An at-risk student is “someone who is unlikely to graduate on schedule with both the skills and the self-esteem necessary to exercise meaningful options in the areas of work, leisure, culture, civic affairs, and inter/intrapersonal relationships”. - Richard Sagor

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Categories of Factors Contributing To Students Being “At-Risk” Individual Factors Family Factors School Factors Community Factors

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Individual Factors Lack of future orientation Inadequate peer relationships Drug abuse Pregnancy Special learning needs Depression

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Family Factors Poverty Low expectations Abuse Mobility of family Parent level of education Language and literacy levels

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved School Factors  Lack of program for challenged students  No significant, interested adult  Lack of alternatives for learning  Lack of active learning instruction  No individual learning plans  Behavior & discipline issues  Retention policies

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Community Factors Lack of involvement with schools Lack of support for schools Non-caring environment Low expectations Violence Few recreational facilities

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Status Variables Age, Gender Socioeconomic background Ethnicity Native language Mobility Family structure (Lehr, C.A.,et.al, Essential Tools, 2004)

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Alterable Variables Grades, Retention Disruptive behavior Absenteeism School Policies, Climate Sense of belonging Attitude toward school Support in the home (Lehr, C.A.,et.al, Essential Tools, 2004)

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved National Dropout Prevention Center/Network 14 Why do you think students drop out of school?

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved National Dropout Prevention Center/Network 15 Some Common Responses Didn’t like school Poor grades Couldn’t get along with teachers Had to get a job Pregnant Expelled or suspended Felt like they didn’t belong at school

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Dropping out is not simply a result of academic failure. R. W. Rumberger, 2004 Why Students Drop Out of School” In Dropouts in America: Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis, Gary Orfield, Editor

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Dropping out is a process, not an event. Dropout Risk Factors and Exemplary Programs, National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (2007)

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved 18 Meet Your Youth Read about your youth Discuss the risk factors Record the risk factors

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved 19 Service Project What Developmental Assets or Resiliency skills could be developed/nurtured/reinforced in this service project? Which would help meet the needs of your youth. Think about how you could enhance the service experience for youth to develop those assets and skills.

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved “… students want their schools to be more interesting, relevant, and hands on, service- learning projects that involve more direct involvement by students receive more support from students.” Engaged for Success, A Report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the National Conference on Citizenship, John M. Bridgeland, John J. DiIulio, Jr, &. Stuart C. Wulsin

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Final Reflections 3 important things I’ve learned are: 2 ideas or insights I would like to share with others are: 1 action I will take immediately is:

© Copyright IGESL – All rights reserved Joan Liptrot