File: JFC - Student Withdrawal from School/Dropouts File: JFC - Student Withdrawal from School/DropoutsNOTE: Colorado school boards are required by law to adopt a policy on this subject and the law contains some specific direction as to the content or language. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the board should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.
The Board recognizes and promotes the importance of obtaining a high school diploma, as a diploma assists students to lead healthy and productive lives after graduation. Those youth who withdraw from school and prepare to face life with less than a high school education will have a much more difficult time entering the workforce or pursuing other goals. Therefore, the Board strongly urges every teacher, guidance counselor, principal, parent and citizen to exert all the influence which he/she can command to keep all district students in school through high school graduation.
Principals, teachers and guidance counselors are encouraged to make dropout prevention a priority through personal contacts with students and specialized programs. The goal is to enable those students who are considering dropping out or have dropped out of school to return and resume their programs with a minimum degree of disruption.
To emphasize the importance of a high school diploma and to encourage students to reconsider their decision to withdraw from school, the district shall notify the student's parent/guardian in writing, when the district has knowledge that a student has dropped out of school. Such written notification shall be in accordance with this policy's accompanying regulation. For purposes of this policy, "dropout" shall mean any student included in the district's "student dropout rate," as defined by the rules of the State Board of Education.
(Adoption date)
LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-2-114.1 (dropout rate reporting )
C.R.S. 22-14-108 (written notice of dropout status)
C.R.S. 22-32-118.5 (intervention strategies for students in grades 6-9 at risk of dropping out)
C.R.S. 22-33-104 (compulsory school attendance)
C.R.S. 22-33-203 and 204 (services for expelled and at-risk students)
C.R.S. 22-35-109.5 (dropout recovery programs)
1 CCR 301-1, Rule 13.01(definition of "student dropout rate")
CROSS REF.: IKF, Graduation Requirements
NOTE 1: Districts may enter into an agreement with a community college or junior college to operate a dropout recovery program. C.R.S. 22-35-109.5 (3). Students at risk of dropping out of high school or who have dropped out of high school may enroll in college courses and receive credit toward completion of high school graduation requirements by participating in a dropout recovery program.
NOTE 2: State law requires local boards of education to consider adopting procedures to review relevant data of students in grades six through nine who are demonstrating behaviors that indicate the student is at greater risk of dropping out. C.R.S. 22-32-118.5 (2)(a). Once a student is identified, the procedures may specify that the school shall provide "appropriate interventions" such as counseling, tutoring, parent engagement and developmental education services. C.R.S. 22-32-118.5 (2)(b).
[Revised June 2013]
COLORADO SAMPLE POLICY 2005