1. What’s So Great About Service Learning?
2009 Missouri Service-Learning Conference October 5-6, Communities Under Construction   Joan Lennon Liptrot

2. National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
How many students do you think drop out of school each year in this country?
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

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)

4. 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

5. “… 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

6. 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

7. Categories of Factors Contributing To Students Being “At-Risk”
Individual Factors
Family Factors
School Factors
Community Factors

8. Individual Factors Lack of future orientation
Inadequate peer relationships
Drug abuse
Pregnancy
Special learning needs
Depression

9. Family Factors Poverty Low expectations Abuse Mobility of family
Parent level of education
Language and literacy levels

10. 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

11. Community Factors Lack of involvement with schools
Lack of support for schools
Non-caring environment
Low expectations
Violence
Few recreational facilities

12. Status Variables Age, Gender Socioeconomic background Ethnicity
Native language
Mobility
Family structure
(Lehr, C.A.,et.al, Essential Tools, 2004)

13. 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)

14. Why do you think students drop out of school?
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

15. National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
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
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

16. 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

17. Dropping out is a process, not an event.
Dropout Risk Factors and Exemplary Programs, National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (2007)

18. Meet Your Youth Read about your youth Discuss the risk factors
Record the risk factors

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.

20. “…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

21. 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:

22. Joan Liptrot JLiptrot@igesl.org