At Issue
New formula to show higher dropout rates
The Michigan Department of Education will soon report graduation rates using a new formula that’s expected to show an increase in the number of high school dropouts.
The state will report a graduation rate that includes only “on time” graduates who earn diplomas in four years. The rates will be calculated by tracking individual students who first enrolled in ninth grade in fall 2003, and graduated four years later with regular diplomas.
The change is part of the Michigan Department of Education’s plan to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act and to meet national standards outlined by the National Governors Association.
Schools have already reviewed the data. The state plans to release it publicly in August.
To help educators and others understand the new graduation/dropout rates, a toolkit with talking points, a fact sheet and frequently asked questions is available online at www.michiganedusource.org/ GradRatesToolkit.htm.