Before you can attack a dropout problem, you need to identify it. But getting the data isn't always easy. The Portland Public Schools (PPS), however, took the effort to gather that data. The results were disappointing: Only 54-percent of students were actually graduating, despite state figures showing a rate closer to 80-percent. But PPS used that data both to identify possible remedies and as a lever for getting those remedies put in place. Bridgespan partner Daniel Stid sat down to interview Leslie Rennie-Hill, former Chief of the PPS Office of High Schools, and Carole Smith, current Superintendent of the Portland Public Schools, to find out more. You can also view the full PPS case study.
March 27, 2009
Podcast: From Data to Results in Preventing Dropouts in the Portland Public Schools
Many school district leaders, particularly those in urban areas, struggle to reduce dropout rates, but find themselves overwhelmed by the dimensions of the problem. There are, however, a few districts making notable progress towards reducing the number of dropouts and ensuring that students earn high school diplomas in a timely manner.One of these is the Portland, Oregon, Public Schools (PPS). In the course of a single calendar year (2007-2008) PPS began to have a positive impact in addressing its dropout problem. Bridgespan partner Daniel Stid interviews Leslie Rennie-Hill, former Chief of the PPS Office of High Schools, and Carole Smith, current Superintendent of the Portland Public Schools to find out more.
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