As defined by 281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.2(256), an "at-risk student" means any identified student who needs additional support and who is not meeting or not expected to meet the established goals of the educational program (academic, personal/social, career/vocational). At-risk students include but are not limited to students in the following groups: homeless children and youth, dropouts, returning dropouts, and potential drop outs.
The Durant Community School District will include in its comprehensive school improvement plan the following provisions for meeting the needs of at-risk (281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.5(13)):
Valid and systematic procedures and criteria to identify at-risk students throughout the dristrict's school-age population.
Determination of appropriate ongoing educational strategies for alternative options education programs as required in Iowa Code, Section 280.19A, and
Review and evaluation of the effective of provisions for at-risk students.
The Durant Community School District will use additional allowable growth for provisions for at-risk students and dwill incorporate educational program goals for at-risk students into its comprehensive school improvement plan. Provisions for at-risk students will align with student learning goals and content standards established by the district. The comprehensive school improvement plan shall also include objectives, activities, cooperative arrangements with other service agencies and service groups, strategies for parental involvement to meet the needs of at-risk children.
Durant Community School District will identify students considered at-risk according to the state definition as established in Iowa Code 257.39.
Students must meet a minimum of two of the following state criteria:
High rate of absenteeism, trunacy, or frequent tardiness.
Limited connectivity or lack of identification with school, including but not limited to, expressed feelings of not belonging.
Lack of typical progreess in school to include a number of "begining" skills earlier in a school career (especially compared to classmates who are "developing" or beyond in what would generally be considered more typical student progress for a grade level) and poor grades later in the school career. As it relates to poor grades, including but not limited to, failing in one or more school subjects or grade levels.
Low achievement scores in reading or mathematics which reflect achievement at least two years or more below grade level.
The Durant Community School District recognizes additional factors may contribute to a student being at-risk. The following district criteria has been adopted based on the research of the National Dropout Prevention Center to be used with with the Instructional Decision Making Process to identify at-risk students including potential and returning dropouts as defined in Iowa Code section 257.39.
The Durant Community School District's goals for at-risk learners are to:
Decrease high rates of absenteeism, truancy, and tardiness so students experience full core instruction.
Increase student academic success and homework completion in passing core classes by ensuring academic interventions.
Have a system of intervention and support in place that is preventative as well as responsive to help improve the chances of students graduating on time with their peers.
Assist students with personal/social challenges that could impede school success at school and beyond the school setting.
Assist students in understanding the importance of good conduct and reducing the suspensions or detentions for non-academic issues during a semester or school year.
Increase student participation in classroom learning activities and/or extra-curricular activities by showing the importance of school and community involvement.
Facilitate access to community-based support services for at-risk families.