March 22 , 2006 Press Release

University of New Hampshire Logo

The Institute on Disability Focuses on NH Dropout Rate

The federal No Child Left Behind Act has put a spotlight on the dropout issue nationally and, in the state of New Hampshire, the issue has become a priority of the Governor and the state Department of Education. In 2002, the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability worked with the NH Department of Education and the Alliance for Community Supports (a youth-serving community based organization) to propose a dropout prevention and recovery project that is based on a school-wide systems change model called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and an individualized school-to-career service called RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, natural Supports, Education and Work). The project, entitled APEX (Achievement in dropout Prevention and Excellence) worked with Franklin High School and Central High School in Manchester between 2002 and 2005. These two schools were identified as having the highest dropout rates in the state. The project staff also collaborated with the NH Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (CEBIS) at SERESC in Bedford, NH. The CEBIS provides training and support to NH schools using the PBIS model

During three years, each high school received extensive training and technical support
from the Institute for the development of school-based teams that collected and evaluated behavioral issues within the school at three levels: a universal level (for all students), a targeted level (for students who are at risk of losing substantial classroom time), and an intensive level (for students who have already dropped out, are far behind in credits to graduate, or who face significant challenges to graduation). The Alliance for Community Supports staff members worked with the schools to provide intensive level RENEW supports.

Franklin High School adopted the PBIS model and experienced a nearly 400% reduction in its annual dropout rate, from 16.8% in 2001-02 to under 3% in 2004-05. The numbers of students who were being sent to the office dropped by 75%, and the numbers of students who required intensive, one-on-one supports was dramatically reduced. By collecting data, identifying students who may be at risk before they fall behind and by organizing its resources in a more efficient manner, Franklin High School is now a "much nicer, friendlier, better place" (A Franklin parent, 2005). As a bonus, Franklin High School's standardized test scores increased "from near the bottom to somewhere in the middle" (Dr. Bob Braman, HS Principal, 2005). Nationally, PBIS is proving to be an evidenced-based model for school improvement (see www.pbis.org).

During the summer of 2005, the U. S. Department of Education issued a second dropout prevention call for proposals. The Institute on Disability, working closely with the NH Department of Education, developed a proposal entitled APEX II, using the same model for PBIS and RENEW intensive services. The proposal expanded the APEX model to 11 high schools. Only two states were awarded grants - New Hampshire and Minnesota. The project is currently introducing the process to the high schools.

Franklin High School is not eligible for APEX II because its dropout rate is below the state average. Central High School will continue to participate under APEX II, and has developed a student leadership initiative to participate in its school wide systems change process. APEX II is connected to the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University, and the Institute plans to disseminate the results so that more schools can consider the PBIS model for school improvement.

The Project Coordinator at the Institute on Disability is JoAnne M. Malloy, MSW and can be reached at jmmalloy@aol.com. For more information please visit the APEX page of the IOD website at http://iod.unh.edu/projects/APEX.html

###
The IOD advances policies and systems changes, promising practices, education and research that strengthen communities and ensure full access, equal opportunities, and participation for all persons.