School Connectedness = Dropout Prevention Survey

NEA has sounded the alarm about the silent epidemic of dropouts among minorities in urban schools. Now, MSTA's Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Committee is tackling the issue here in Maryland with a survey designed to measure member awareness and collect prevention strategies. Special note: The Convention 2008 agenda includes a special panel discussion on the Maryland dropout crisis.

The MSTA Human and Civil Rights Committee's theme for the 2008-09 school year is “School Connectedness = Dropout Prevention: It's everyone's responsibility”. To help plan our activities we are conducting this survey, the results of which will appear in an upcoming edition of ActionLine magazine.

Name
School District
Indicate all that apply:	Pre-K Elementary Middle School High School
Is dropout prevention or school connectedness a concern in your school/district?
Yes No
If yes, what programs have been put in place to address these issues?

Please check the types of students most at-risk of dropping out in your community:
Black White Hispanic Truants Drug-Involved Low Income Discipline Problems Other
Can you identify best practices or strategies for working with students at risk of dropping out?

What kinds of information or support does school staff need to work with these students and their families?

Can you identify a specific school or program in your community that has increased school connectedness and reduced the dropout rate? What exactly were the results? How was this accomplished?