Retention is NOT an Intervention:Strategies for Student Success

Is Retention the Solution?

• Purpose:– To increase awareness of the high retention rates of

students in grades K-4 in Louisiana

• Outcome: – 75% of students in Louisiana

arrive in 4th grade on time by 2014

Literacy Goals

• Students enter kindergarten ready to learn

• Students are literate by the third grade

• Students will enter fourth grade on time

• Students perform at or above grade level in English Language Arts by eighth grade

• Achieve all critical goals, regardless of race or class

• Measure: Percentage of students earning consecutive promotion from kindergarten through fourth grade

• Current Status (Fall 2010): 72.3 percent of students arrive

in fourth grade on time

• Ultimate Goal: 90 percent of students

arrive in fourth grade on time

• Immediate Goal: 75 percent of students

arrive in fourth grade on time by 2014

Students Will Enter Fourth Grade On Time

Promotion

• Similar to calculating the Graduation Rate

Look at a cohort of kindergarten students

Same students entered “K”

at the same time

How many of the “K” students

made it to 4th grade on time?

Goal: Kindergarteners arrive in 4th on-time Measure: Student promotion

Ultimate Goal 90% arrive on-time

Immediate Goal 75% arrive on-time by 2014

Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Fall 201064

68

72

68.4 68.3 67.3

72.3

Percent Arriving in 4th On-Time

12,763 Students did not make it to 4th grade on time in 2010-2011

• Of those:

5,068 retained in Kindergarten

4,612 retained in First Grade

1,950 retained in Second Grade

1,133 retain in Third Grade

Retention in Louisiana

• In Louisiana, 12,763 or 28% of students fail to make it to 4th grade on age-grade level based on 2010 data

We retain students despite overwhelming

research and practical evidence that

retention fails to lead to improved student

outcomes

Louisiana’s Retention Challenge

• These students are not subject to state-mandated retention requirements

High-stakes LEAP testing beginsat end of 4th grade

Pupil Progression before LEAP governed solely by local district policy (BESE Bulletin 1566, §503 )

Reasons For Retention

• Academic Failure

• Lack of Basic Skills

• Excessive Absences

• Emotional Immaturity

• Parental Request

Louisiana’s Retention Challenge

• In Louisiana, approximately 1 of every 3 public school students (28%) is retained prior

to 4th grade

• Nationally, about 10% of public

school students (and 23% of

students in poverty) are retained

at ANY grade level

Louisiana’s Over Age Student Challenge

A Louisiana student who enters HS…

… graduates from HS

On age-grade level(14 years old)

84% of the time

Retained once(15 years old)

66% of the time

Retained twice(16 years old)

25% of the time

Retained more than twice (17+)

6% of the time

• 1 in 3 students enter 4th grade over age in Louisiana

• 1 in 3 students enter HS over age in Louisiana

• 1 in 3 students fail to earna HS diploma inLouisiana

The “Downstream” ChallengeSchool Year K-4 “On Time”

Promotion RateHS Graduation Rate

2009-2010 67.3% 67.4%

2008-2009 68.3% 66.6%

2007-2008 68.4% 65.9%

• National studies have consistently identified grade retention as a leading indicator of HS dropout rates.

• Louisiana data demonstrates the same strong correlation (see above chart).

• We can accurately predict the graduation outcomes of 80% of the state’s freshman based ONLY on their age & previous school attendance.

• Grade retention increases a student’s risk of dropping out between 20% and 50%.

Louisiana K-4 On-Time Promotion Rates and Cohort Graduation Rate

2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-20100

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

68.4 68.3 67.365.9 66.6 67.4Promotion Rate

Cohort Graduation Rate

We cannot solve the dropout crisis without addressing the retention problem!

The Bottom Line

• “…retention, whether it is called by a special name (transition), occurs for a special reason (immaturity), or takes place in kindergarten rather than later, is still retention and still ineffective.” (quoted from Shepherd, 1989)

• Those who continue to retain pupils at grade levels do so despite cumulative evidence showing the potential for negative effects consistently outweighspositive outcomes….(quoted from Holmes& Matthews, 1984)

What Can We Do?• Policy Options

Limit the number of times an elementary student can be retained; allow retention only on the basis of academic performance/attendance

Require multiple documented interventions prior to

permitting retention

Require teachers/SBLCs to develop

individual intervention plans for all retained

students and those at risk of retention

Monitor retention rates by school and

grade level, and intervene based on data

What Can We Do?

• Other Options

Embed information about research on retention into school-level professional development and information for parents

Provide principals & teachers with guides for early interventions for students at-risk to preventretention

Alternatives to Retention

• Response to Intervention (RTI) (http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/16839.pdf)

• Early Intervention

• Extended Instructional Time

• Effective programs that frequently

assess student progress and adapt

instructional strategies based on

results of these assessments

Alternatives to Retention

• Reading and math programs that provide developmentally appropriate, intensive, and direct instruction strategies to promote the reading and math skills of students at risk of being retained

• School-based mental health programs that promote the social and emotional adjustment of children. For example, addressing behavior problems

has been found to be effective in facilitating academic performance (Zins, Weissberg, Wang, & Walberg, 2004)

Solutions to Consider from Principals

• Ensure early success in K and 1 with targeted early intervention

• Collaboration with Head Start Programs and Daycare Centers

• Transitional classes with students completing one and

a half grades in one year

• Literacy and Numeracy Instruction most of the

school day with science, social studies, health,

etc. embedded

• Specific training for PreK and K interventions

(Ex. Speech and Language Pathologist Pilot)

Solutions to Consider from Principals

• More side by side coaching

• Prior to school classes in the summer for students being considered for retention (use data such as DIBELS for determination)

• After school interventions for students that require strategic and intensive support

• Parent seminars to support student learning

• Much, much more!

National Association of SchoolPsychologists

• NASP recommends “promotion plus specific interventions designed to address the factors that place students at risk for school failure”

Full list available at

http://www.nasponline.org

Jumpstart Summer Camp• Use data to select those students who are candidates for retention

• Select your “BEST” reading/math teacher – possibly a coach or interventionist

• 8 to 10 students per teacher

• Have parents sign assurances for attendance to miss no more than 1 day if child is to be promoted

• Bring selected students in for a 4 week “Jumpstart Summer Camp” just prior to school starting

Jumpstart Summer Camp

• Target the reading and math skills that are areas of weakness for the individual students for direct systematic teaching

• Provide extensive time on task for reading – partner reading, paired reading, reading to other adults, books/tapes

• Depending on age of the students, have them read two or more books for pleasure on their independent reading level at home each night – use a reading log for the parent to sign – this involves parent and child

• Continuously progress monitor and adapt instruction to achieve student success and prevent retention

How Do I Fund?

• MUST Braid Funds

• Title I, IDEA, REAP, ELL, Homeless, SIG, local funds, etc.

• Major Costs – Teacher and

Transportation

• Major Payoff – Fewer Retentions

and more High School Graduates

Retention

How many students did you

hold back in K, 1, 2, and 3? What are your district/school numbers?

http://www.laeducationresults.net/State/

Retention.aspx?RecordID=000

What is the most common reason for

retention in your school or district?

What can be done to prevent retention?

Success has a price tag on it, and the tag reads

“Courage, Determination, Discipline, Risk Taking, Perseverance, and Consistency”---doing the right things for the right reasons and not just when we feel like it.

- James Meston, Author

Kerry Laster, Ph.D.Chief of Literacy

Literacy Goal Office

Louisiana Department of Education

Email: Kerry.laster@la.gov

Phone: 225-342-3647