School Dropouts in Rural Colorado School Districts
Dropouts from rural school districts have not received the same scrutiny as given to those from urban ones. The reasons behind this lack of knowledge about the experience of rural school districts with dropouts are unclear. The purpose of the present study was to begin to close this knowledge gap. A first major study of rural dropouts in the United States has been done here in Colorado to help us plan for different kinds of programs and services needed in much of our state.
School Dropouts in Rural Colorado School Districts
Girls Tend to Stop Going; Boys Get Told Not to Come Back: A Report on Gender and the Dropout Problem in Colorado Schools
The purpose of this exploratory study is to begin to probe what makes girls drop out of school.
Girls Tend to Stop Going; Boys Get Told Not to Come Back: A Report on Gender and the Dropout Problem in Colorado SchoolsAdvancing the “Colorado Graduates” Agenda: Understanding the Dropout Problem and Mobilizing to Meet the Graduation Challenge
An effort is underway that aims to cut the state’s dropout rate in half over the next ten years by convening a group of organizations. This effort -- the Colorado Graduates Initiative (CGI) – has several elements and includes action to improve policies and practices at both the state and local levels. Partners currently in the CGI network include the Colorado Children’s Campaign, National Center for School Engagement at the Partnership for Families and Children, and the Colorado Youth for a Change. Early initiative supporters include the Donnell-Kay Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Piton Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, Qwest, and the Women’s Foundation.
This report highlights one of the initial projects of the CGI – a partnership with Johns Hopkins University to work with five of Colorado’s school districts to help them understand both the behavioral patterns of recent dropouts in the years prior to leaving school, and who is currently at risk of dropping out of school (by looking at data from today’s students in earlier grades). As the Johns Hopkins work points out, identifying middle school students with poor attendance, failing grades, and poor behavior can help educators and communities intervene with students much earlier to keep them on the path to graduation and prevent future dropouts.
Advancing the “Colorado Graduates” Agenda: Understanding the Dropout Problem and Mobilizing to Meet the Graduation ChallengeWidening the Gap: The Potential Impact of Eliminating the Colorado Preschool Program
This Policy Brief estimates the impact that eliminating the Colorado Preschool Program would have on the student achievement gap.
Widening the Gap: The Potential Impact of Eliminating the Colorado Preschool ProgramDenver’s Public Schools: Reforms, Challenges and the Future
This report gives an objective look at the history and progress of Denver Public Schools (DPS) and examines three high-profile reforms underway.
Denver’s Public Schools: Reforms, Challenges and the FutureLooking Forward: Colorado’s Fiscal Prospects Amid a Financial Crisis
This report projects the amount Colorado would need to spend to maintain state services at 2007 levels through fiscal year 2012-13 and the amount of revenues that will be generated to pay for them.
Looking Forward: Colorado’s Fiscal Prospects Amid a Financial CrisisChildhood Poverty in Colorado: A Closer Look at a Statewide Challenge
The nation’s recent economic problems underscore the urgency of addressing the challenges that low-income families face. The current economic downturn will exacerbate what already are troubling trends in Colorado -- namely, that too many children in the state live in poverty and these numbers are growing rapidly.
Childhood Poverty in Colorado: A Closer Look at a Statewide ChallengeQuality Child Care: An Investment in Families, An Investment in Colorado’s Economy
In order for families to support themselves, parents must have access to jobs and the ability to consistently go to work to keep them. Current economic hardships highlight even more clearly this critical connection. One barrier that prevents many working parents from maintaining employment and supporting their families is access to child care. A strong child care industry is a cornerstone not only of these families, but of Colorado’s economic development and prosperity. While Colorado’s child care capacity is decreasing, the population of eligible children is increasing, creating a crisis that has implications for us all.
Quality Child Care: An Investment in Families, An Investment in Colorado’s EconomyFood for Thought, Health for Success: Pursuing Policy that Supports Student Wellness and Achievement
As schools work to ensure that all students have the skills and competencies to succeed in work and life, and with growing expectations for success on standardized assessments at the federal, state and local levels, education leaders increasingly understand the importance of student wellness to achieving these goals. This report outlines why wellness is related to student success, and how Colorado can promote policies and practices that promote physical activity and nutrition for students.
Food for Thought, Health for Success: Pursuing Policy that Supports Student Wellness and AchievementMoving the Needle: An Up-to-Date Look at What States Are Doing To Alleviate Hardship Among Children and Families
Moving the Needle on Poverty is designed to provide Colorado leaders with an up-to-date picture of the diverse strategies that states across the nation are pursuing to lift individuals, families, and communities out of poverty.
Moving the Needle: An Up-to-Date Look at What States Are Doing To Alleviate Hardship Among Children and Families