State Policies that Facilitate (or Inhibit) Expanding Education Options for Struggling Students

and Out-of-School Youth

NYEC Learning ExchangeAustin, TX

October 29, 2008

Focus on Education Finance

• State education funds represent one of the largest funding streams potentially available to support disconnected youth.

• Our Research: NYEC has been investigating how alternative schools and programs access local and state education funding to reach struggling students and out-of-school youth.

• Our Goal: To promote the establishment of sustainable funding streams to support a broader range of education options & pathways for disconnected youth.

Focus on Education Finance

NYEC has profiled:

• Programs and their strategies for tapping into funding streams

• States and their education finance policies

3 Areas of Recommendation

I. Allow education funds to flow to support students in programs both within and outside of traditional public school settings

II. Provide additional education funds to support existing education options adequately and to encourage public school districts to expand options for secondary education

III. Ensure legislation is flexible enough to allow for a variety of educational approaches

I. Funds follow student

Ease the flow of state education funds to options that work.

States should enable the development of more education options & increase resources available for these education pathways by facilitating the flow of state education funds to non-public school education providers.

•Oregon example

I. Funds follow student

Provide adequate funding to support education options.

States should ensure that adequate funding follows students in education programs outside of the public K-12 system.

•Charter school finance policies

•Contracting out for service provision while retaining a portion of per-pupil funds

I. Funds follow student

Extend education funds to support high school completion for older youth.

States should make public education funding available to serve students until they obtain a diploma.

•In MA no age limit

II. Additional funds

Establish and fund statewide dropout prevention and recovery programs.

States should support statewide programs to increase graduation rates, including dropout prevention and dropout recovery programs.

II. Additional funds

Provide additional resources to schools and programs serving the hardest-to-serve students.

States should consider instituting a weighted student formula in determining funds allocated to education options.

•IN- Alternative Education Program Grants up to $750 per pupil

•NC- Committee on Dropout Prevention Awarded $7M to 60 programs across the state in 2008.

III. Flexible legislation

Allow flexibility on key education programming issues.

States should allow flexibility regarding regulations affecting education options programs’ eligibility for state education funds, such as scheduling, seat time, time to graduation, & curriculum.

III. Flexible legislation

Recognize the need for a variety of education options for a varied student population.

States should support the development of a variety of education options for struggling students and out-of-school youth.

• Accelerated Learning

• Credit Recovery

• GED Prep

• Employment Preparation

• Juvenile Justice Re-entry

• Career & Technical Education

• Programs for Parenting Teens

III. Flexible legislation

Encourage collaboration beyond the public schools.

States should encourage school districts to collaborate with other local youth-serving systems and community-based organizations to meet the needs of struggling students and out-of-school youth.

•MA – Pathways to Success by 21 (P21)

Punitive Policies

States should carefully consider the effects of policies meant to discourage (or punish students for) dropping out, such as:

• Increased compulsory school age

• Driver’s license/learner’s permit privileges

• Work permit privileges

The Opportunity

• Older youth issues and the dropout rate are getting unprecedented attention nationally.

• Many districts and states are involved in high school reform discussions.

• Youth-serving systems are more receptive to collaboration.

• Employers are demanding more skilled workers.

• Workforce systems and municipal leaders are more interested in playing a key role in dropout recovery and re-engagement.

For more information visit www.nyec.org

Nancy Martin

National Youth Employment Coalition

1836 Jefferson Place, NW

Washington, DC 20036

202-659-1064