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dropouts

Dropout policy not enforced May 12, 2006 By: Cassie del Pilar After the Illinois Legislature raised the compulsory school attendance age to 17 from 16, the School Board launched a media blitz to announce a new attendance and truancy policy that included a controversial provision requiring parents to sign a consent form before a child drops out. Bill Leavy, executive director of Greater West Town Community Project, says he believes the law has at least lit a fire under schools to do more to keep kids from leaving. But some kids who tried to get back in school initially had a difficult time doing so, he adds. Read More \| (0) Comments	Dropout rate declines, or does it? March 03, 2006 By: linda Read More \| (0) Comments
Freshman grades predict graduation prospects December 29, 2005 By: Jody Temkin Eighth graders with high test scores generally perform well in high school. But a recent study has found 8th-grade achievement is not the best way to predict whether a high school student will graduate on time. More significant is the number of credits earned and courses failed during freshmen year, according to a report by the Consortium on Chicago School Research. And it's not just students failing three or more courses who need quick attention, says Elaine Allensworth, who co-authored the study. "Just failing one or two semesters of a course lowers the chance of graduating." Read More \| (0) Comments	Q&A with Pa Joof November 08, 2005 By: Lorraine Forte Alternative education should not be viewed negatively, says Pa Joof, longtime principal at Prologue, which now serves about 500 former dropouts at its main Uptown campus and other satellite centers. Joof, a former math and history teacher, spoke with Consulting Editor Lorraine Forte about empowering youth to take ownership of their education, the alienation that drives young people to drop out and what can be done to prevent it. Principal turnover is a concern in Chicago Public Schools. What keeps you on the job? You have to have the passion to educate young people. Read More \| (0) Comments
Struggle with learning disability ends with high school graduation August 02, 2005 By: Debra Williams Four years ago, instead of being excited about high school, Nicole Roberts was dreading it. After struggling with a learning disability in elementary school and barely finishing 8th grade, she envisioned more of the same at Hyde Park Academy. And for a while, it was. As a freshman, Nicole earned mostly D's and F's. And her bad attitude and poor behavior made her abrasive and unapproachable with her classmates and teachers. "I was really mean," 18-year-old Roberts admits. Read More \| (0) Comments