On Monday, Sept. 21, educators, community leaders, youth coordinators and student representatives descended on the district office in Lawrence for a regional dropout summit. The group discussed solutions to the state’s escalating dropout rate in preparation for the statewide Kansas Dropout Prevention Summit Oct. 20 in Wichita.

   The meeting began with group discussions designed to identify problems with the current educational system. While the groups pondered challenges facing dropouts and schools, Drop Ins Coordinator Jessica Noble presided over the meeting.

   “We’re dedicated to see every student graduate high school,” Noble said. “We can no longer afford to treat this as a ‘school problem.’ Not graduating costs everybody.”

   The Drop In Initiative, sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance, is comprised of over 25 public and private organizations across Kansas. The Alliance has supported each of the eight regional summits, believing that no single solution will work for the entire state. Together, these regional summits will work to identify solutions to the keep kids in the classroom.

   Principal Matt Brungardt attended the Sept. 21 meeting on behalf of the school. Brungardt feels schools have a responsibility to keep their students in class.

   “We have a moral obligation to prepare our Continued from page 1

kids for life,” Brungardt said. “If someone leaves here without a diploma, they’re not going to be as employable in this informational society.”

   To Brungardt, when kids drop out, it not only reflects poorly on the student; it disparages the school.

   “If kids are dropping out, they’re going to hurt our test scores, AYP [Adequate Yearly Progress], dropout rate, graduation rates and those types of things,” Brungardt said.

   By the end of the afternoon, the summit had generated some solutions. The participants recommended increasing opportunities for real world learning by giving students chances to volunteer and get involved in the community. They also applauded after school programs for encouraging students to be a part of the school.

   These ideas, along with those from the other regional dropout summits, will be presented at October’s statewide summit when the entire state will drop in on Wichita to keep students from dropping out.