Increasing Graduation Rates and Decreasing Dropout Rates of Students with Disabilities
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires states to develop a State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP). In collaboration with multiple stakeholders, Pennsylvania selected increasing the graduation rate for students with disabilities as its focus. The BSE identified seven coherent improvement strategies that lead to higher graduation rates. The BSE is partnering with a number of Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to implement its SSIP. High quality training and technical assistance is being offered to schools through this partnership and lessons learned are being shared with all LEAs in the commonwealth. BSE is also collaborating with the federally funded Community Parent Resource Center, Hispanos Unidos para Niños Excepcionales (HUNE). Community and mentoring materials and resources developed through this partnership are being shared with other organizations.
Customized Professional Development and Technical Assistance
SSIP Resources
This section includes the most recent State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report which includes Indicator 17, the SSIP Theory of Action, resources regarding the Seven Coherent Improvement Strategies, and a visual representation of stakeholder engagement. Data Tools are also provided to increase graduation rates and a link to sign up for The Essential Bulletin for Educators publication.
Data Tools to Increase Graduation Rates:
State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Recorded Presentations
This section includes any presentations developed for state and national conferences regarding how to plan to increase the graduation rates of students with disabilities. The presentations are accessible, closed-captioned, and include a narrative. The presentations may also include voice-overs of the SSIP PaTTAN Consultants.
2018 - Implementing Evidence-Based Practices to Increase Graduation Rates and Decrease Dropout Rates for Students with Disabilities in Pennsylvania
https://www.pattan.net/videos/implementing-evidence-based-practices-to-increase/
State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Videos/Podcasts
This section includes videos designed by and for Students with disabilities off-track for graduation.
ABC Quick Tip Video in English and Spanish
https://www.huneinc.org/abc-videos-eng-span
Highlighting strategies for supporting students' Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance (The A-B-Cs)
Student Voices: Are you on track to graduate?
https://www.pattan.net/videos/student-voices-are-you-on-track-to-graduate/
Highlighting strategies used for students to stay in school and graduate.
Student Voices HUNE Youth Program Video
https://www.pattan.net/videos/students-voices-hune-youth-program/
Highlighting the HUNE after-school and summer programs to ensure students stay in school and graduate.
Podcast:A Date with Data, Episode 11: A Pennsylvania SSIP Story, Part One
Keystones of Improvement: A Pennsylvania SSIP Story, Part 1 | IDC - IDEA Data Center
Stop us if you’ve heard this one: A state wishes to increase its graduation rates, decrease its drop-out rates. That’s what happened in Pennsylvania, where Dr. Laura Moran and Barbara Mozina applied lessons learned to the second iteration of their state’s SSIP. In the first episode of this two-part A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman hears all about it, including their efforts to establish an online “early warning” data platform, develop protocols for creating and sustaining data teams, and move districts beyond being “data rich and information poor.” You’ll be the richer, too, for tuning in.
Podcast: A Date with Data, Episode 12: A Pennsylvania SSIP Story, Part Two
Keystones of Improvement: A Pennsylvania SSIP Story, Part 2 | IDC - IDEA Data Center
Collaboration. Communication. Continuation. These are just a few keystones of improvement. In this second part of our deep dive into Pennsylvania’s ongoing efforts to increase the state's graduation rate and reduce its drop-out rate, guests Dr. Laura Moran and Barbara Mozina share how they helped develop the ability of stakeholders—especially families and students—to provide feedback by creating and maintaining a continuous flow of information and hosting focus groups. It’s the culmination of our double date in the Keystone State, so don’t miss out.
State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Publications/Resources for Schools & Families
This section includes multiple resources for families to support their student with their Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance (ABC). All resources for families are also available in Spanish in the
Recursos en Español section.
CAPS: ABCs of Equity – After click on it, it needs to be updated to say this publication is also available in Spanish or remove that sentence.
CAPS: Are you on-track to graduate? Check your A-B-C’s! – System error when I clicked to download
CAPS: How Can Families Support Students to Graduate? Check the A-B-C's!
CAPS School Attendance: Strategies for Schools, Families, and Youth
HUNE: Community-Based Engagement
HUNE: Culturally Responsive Practices
HUNE: Family Engagement
HUNE: Listening to Students’ Voices
Recursos de SSIP en Espanol para Familias
CAPS: ABCs de equidad – Clicks to the wrong document and it’s in English not Spanish.
¿Estás en camino a graduarte? ¡Marca las casillas del A-B-C! – error message when clicking download
¿Cómo pueden las familias apoyar a los estudiantes para que se gradúen? ¡Marque las Casillas del A-B-C! – error message when clicking download
CAPS: La asistencia escolar Estrategias para las escuelas, las familias y los jóvenes
HUNE: Participación en la comunidad
HUNE: Prácticas culturalmente sensibles
HUNE: Participación de la familia
HUNE: Escuchando las voces de los estudiantes: Voces de la juventud de HUNE
State and National Resources
This sections offer multiple state and national resources to support LEAs, Families, and Community Agencies increase the graduation rates of students with disabilities.
Attendance Works
HUNE
National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI),
National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD)
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition
Everyone Graduates Center
https://www.gradpartnership.org/ -- Add The Grad Partnership