Early Warning Systems: Dropout Prevention Framework

Overview

On-Track/Early Warning Systems (EWS1) use local and historical data and research-based indicators to help identify students showing signs of risk for missing key educational milestones, including on-time high school graduation and postsecondary readiness. Early warning indicator data are used with other sources of data and insights from people (including students) to help understand underlying student needs.

Most EWS collect data on three essential indicators that research has shown are most predictive of risk for not graduating, often referred to as the ABCs of early warning data:

Attendance: In middle school: missing 9 days/quarter (or 36 days/year). In high school: missing 10% of instructional time.
Behavior: Two or more mild or more serious behavior infractions.
Course Performance: In sixth through eighth grades: failure in English or math, a grade point average of less than 2.0. In ninth through 12th grades: any course failure, failure to pass the ninth grade.

Full Documents

The following are reference documents.

Overview: This document provides a more detailed overview of On-track/Early Warning Systems
Research: This document provides links and titles of research that has informed the dropout prevention framework strategies.

Funding Opportunities

There are multiple competitive grants, among other funding sources that can be used to support the implementation of the technical and human resources of Early Warning and On-Track systems.

Ninth Grade Success Grant: The goal of the grant is to support first time 9th grade students in developing the skills they need to be successful in high school and ready for postsecondary options.
Student Re-engagement Grant: This grant focuses on students who have or are starting to disengage from school.
Expelled and At-Risk Student Services Grant: This grant focuses on students who have been expelled, at-risk of expulsion, or chronically absent.
Empowering Action for School Improvement (EASI): This grant is focused on funds for school improvement. Early Warning/On-track systems are an evidence-based practice that can be used as part of an implementation plan.

Implementation Guides

Implementation Spotlight

The following Practices highlight districts in Colorado implementing this strategy.

Cherry Creek School District

Poudre