What works to improve student success? The Graduation Equity Initiative is collecting the key practices and process of school districts in Washington State that have had positive impacts on graduation rates. For over a year, districts have shared documents, and were visited by OSPI staff and researchers who worked to identify common elements of their work to inform the efforts of others.

The purpose of the Graduation Equity Initiative is to:

• Increase graduation rates…every student ready for career, college and life
• Increase equity in key performance indicators, including graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and 9th grade course failure)

Resources

• Graduation Reflection Questions: A document to help navigate the features of the data analytic tool and record various facets of district graduation data.
• Overview of the Graduation Equity Initiative: A 1-page briefing on the goals, key performance indicators, activities, and support for the work.
• Basic GEI PowerPoint: An overview presentation of the Graduation Equity Initiative, and the work happening in the Highlight Districts.
• Concept and Action Framework: Two frameworks that provide a diagram to organized the graduation equity work within schools and districts.
• Current Reality Instrument: A tool to reflect on the status of key framework areas, and promote change in the school/district.
• Graduation Resource Packet: A comprehensive guidebook, including the frameworks, key practices, implementation guide, and assessment tools.
• 45-Day Action Plan Overview: A strategy to create transparency by: clarifying a vision, collecting information, developing goals, and creating an action plan.
• 45-Day Action Plan Example: An elementary example.
• 45-Day Action Plan Template: A template to organize your goals into 45-Day cycles.
• Graduation Equity District Presentations: Cohort 2 presentations on graduation success and what is working in their districts.

Spotlight on Graduation

OSPI wants to improve support for school districts toward improved graduation rates with equity. The Graduation Success Initiative is identifying common frameworks, components and practices that have been implemented in districts that are seeing results, particularly in high graduation rates with improved equity for low income students.

Cohort 2 - Small Districts

• Ephrata School District
• Kettle Falls School District
• Manson School District
• North Franklin School District
• Rainier School District
• Reardan-Edwall School District
• West Valley School District-Spokane

Cohort 1 - Midsize to Large Districts

• Franklin Pierce School District | District Website
• Kelso School District | District Website
• Spokane Public Schools | District Website
• Sunnyside School District; System of Support | District Website

Why these districts?

These districts were identified with data showing outstanding graduation rates, with little disproportionality for students in poverty. Cohort 1 is made up of midsize to large districts and Cohort 2 is made up of small districts.

Common Elements

Common themes emerged including processes that address:

• Adult expectations that all students are capable of success, and adults are accountable
• Clearly defined goals and outcome measures
• Data based Dropout Early Warning and Intervention Systems (DEWIS)
• Positive school climate
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Prevention, Intervention and Reengagement
• Emphasis on transition years: elementary to middle school, middle to high school
• Connections to mental health and drug & alcohol supports Professional Learning Communities (PLC)