Project GRADUATE: Utilizing State Data and Informed Practices to Create Early Warning Systems to Keep Latinos in School

• In Event: The Latino Student Journey to Higher Education

Abstract

This paper examines the data collection and reporting procedures conducted by district and school staff to prevent students from dropping out of middle and high school. The paper will report the findings from a mixed-method case study of an urban ring district in Washington State on the approaches employed to mitigate school departure among Latino students. Utilizing the longitudinal data routinely collected by schools to keep Latino, low-income and all students in middle and high schools throughout the duration of their schooling experience is likely to raise school, district and state graduation rates, and significantly contribute to mitigating the dropout crisis among Latino students in the state of Washington and the nation.

Authors

• Frances Contreras, University of California - San Diego

• Esthela Chavez, University of Washington

• Kathryn Elizabeth Torres, University of Washington