Taskforce recommendations

In 2010, the District's African American and Latino Male Dropout Taskforce released a report with recommendations on how to address the dropout crisis among Black and Latino males. Some of the suggestions were duplicative of objectives in Imagine 2014, but there were others not in the District's strategic plan. Here are a few points taskforce members thought should also be considered:

• Include Black and Latino males in the process of data collection, especially the "qualitative" piece that collects student stories.

• Prioritize the hiring of re-engaged students as liaisons to stakeholders working on solutions.

• Create programs structured in ways that are sensitive to the cultural differences between Black and Latino males.

• Identify work-based learning opportunities that will allow students to earn a wage while also completing their high school degree.

• Create peer mentoring opportunities.

• Establish single-sex classes.

• Organize single-sex dropout prevention school-based conferences.

• Amend zero-tolerance policy to strive to balance school safety and appropriate sanctions for misconduct.

• Hold high-visibility events such as annual "Dropout Awareness Day".

• Allow students to progress through their learning based on their ability to master the subject matter.