Finding 8441 (2023-003)

Enrollment data reflects that many of our students did not return in the school years immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of fewer students returning and graduating on time resulted in a significant decline in the cohort membership. • In the 21-22 school year, 2,236 seniors were enrolled; however, the freshmen class of 18-19 commenced with 3,574 students. • The cohort membership shifted from a freshmen class of 3,574 to a senior class of 2,236. As a result, the following plan is outlined to address the grad rate concerns. Data Analysis • Identify trends: codes most frequently used, subpopulation of students. • Create a profile of students that are exiting that develop a monitoring/warning system. • Meet with principals to discuss the impact of grad cohort on school and district SPS. • Office hours for schools requiring additional support. Inter-departmental collaboration • Engage with other departments to discuss attendance trends and impact on respective department. • Form committee to work collaboratively to address the concerns. • Train appropriate staff members (clerical staff, student support, attendance/truancy/hearing officers). Protocols • Analyze available codes in JCampus to be sure that codes not used in the district are disabled. • Develop process to ensure that all schools are using the proper codes used for exiting students. • Discuss and update the process for “no show” students. • Utilize the Louisiana e-scholar database to search for students appearing on state dropout rosters. • Contact neighboring districts to obtain verification of enrollment documents. • Engage in discussion with the state and SIS to improve measure to locate students appearing in duplicate schools. • Train appropriate staff members on updated protocols. Timeline and Specific Next Steps with Schools: 1. For schools that did not have the proper documentation to support the legitimate leave code, schools will send their school level protocol and process for securing documentation for legitimate leavers to the Executive Director of High School for a review by January 10, 2023. 2. Directors on our Data Management team will review the protocols and processes that schools sent and provide feedback by January 19th. 3. Training and support will be provided directly to schools in order to improve practices at the school level during the weeks of January 22-26 and January 29-February 2nd, 2024.