State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education (Page 24 of 277) in pdf

State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 24

Arkansas Department of Education Special Education Unit

Part B State Performance Plan

Monitoring Priority: FAPE in the LRE

Indicator 02: Dropout Rates

Percent of youth with IEPs dropping out of high school (20 U.S.C. 1416 (a)(3)(A))

Measurement

States must report a percentage using the number of youth with IEPs (ages 14-21) who exited special

education due to dropping out in the numerator and the number of all youth with IEPs who left high school

(ages 14-21) in the denominator.

Same data as used for reporting to the Department under IDEA section 618.

Arkansas has chosen to maintain the previous calculation as optioned to states by OSEP. In accordance with

Arkansas Code Annotated §6-15-503, the calculated school enrollment census (October 1 through

September 30) total is used to determine the dropout rate for all students. Dropouts include students who

leave prior to graduation including students who pursue taking the General Educational Development test

leading to a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

The single-year event data for this indicator is collected through the Arkansas Public School Computer

Network (APSCN) student information system and submitted through the EDEN submission system (ESS)

by the ADE Data Administration Office. Data Administration provides the numbers for this indicator to the

Special Education Unit. The data reflects students enrolled in grades 7-12.

Overview of Issue/Description of System or Process

Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, the following process is used by each school to determine the

number of dropouts.

• On or before October 1 of each school year, each district conducts a census of all students enrolled at

each school to arrive at a school enrollment census total for each grade.

• The number of students transferring into each school after the October 1 census through September

30 of the following school year shall be added to the October 1 census total for each grade.

• The number of students transferring out of each school after the October 1 census through

September 30 of the following school year is subtracted from the October 1 census total for each

grade.

• The number of students incarcerated, deceased, or graduating early is subtracted from the October 1

census total for each grade.

• Each district maintains separate records regarding students who leave the public school system to be

home schooled under Arkansas Code Annotated §6-15-503.

• Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, the calculated school enrollment census total is used to

determine the dropout rate for each school.

• For grades two through twelve (2-12), the school enrollment census total for each grade of the

current school year is compared to the school enrollment census total for each of the previous grades

of the previous school year.

• For grade one (1), the current school year school enrollment census total for grade one is compared

to the school enrollment census total for the Kindergarten class of the previous year.

Examples of the calculation used to determine the dropout rate for grades 7 through 12 are as follows:

Page | 22

State Performance Plan 2005-2012 - Part B - Arkansas Department Of Education Page 24