005.19.04 Ark. Code R. § 005 - ADE 185 - Rules Governing the State Reporting of Dropout and Graduation Rates

1.00 REGULATORY AUTHORITY

1.01 These rules shall be known as Arkansas Department of Education Rules governing in state reporting of dropout and graduation rates.

1.02 These rules are enacted pursuant to the State Board of Education's authority under Arkansas Code 6-11-105 and Act 104 of the 84^th General Assembly Second Extraordinary Session.

2.00 PURPOSE

2.01 It is the purpose of these rules to establish guidelines for determining and reporting dropout and graduation rates for in state reporting purposes.

3.00 DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of these rules:

3.01 "Census" is the student count reported to the Arkansas Department of Education through the Arkansas Public School Computer Network as the October 1 student enrollment.

3.02 "Transferring out of the school" means that the school has evidence/documentation that the student has enrolled in another public, private, or home school.

4.00 PROCESS FOR DETERMINING DROPOUTS

Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, the following process will be used by each school to determine the number of dropouts:

4.01 On or before October 1 of each school year, a public school shall conduct a census of all students enrolled at the school to arrive at a school enrollment census total for each grade.

4.02 The number of students transferring into the school after the October 1 census but before the end of the school year shall be added to the October 1 census total for each grade.

4.03 The number of students transferring out of the school after the October 1 census but before the end of the school year shall be subtracted from the October 1 census total for each grade.

4.04 The number of students incarcerated, deceased, or graduating early will be subtracted from the October 1 census total for each grade.

4.05 Each school shall maintain separate records regarding students who, after October 1 of each school year, leave the public school system to be home schooled under Arkansas Code § 6-15-503.

5.00 DETERMINING THE DROPOUT RATE

Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, the school enrollment census total, as calculated and adjusted under section 4.00 shall be used to determine the dropout rate for each school as follows:

5.01 For grades kindergarten through eleven (K-11), the school enrollment census total for each grade of the current school year is compared to the school enrollment census total for each of the previous grades of the previous school year.

5.02 For grade twelve (12), the current school year school enrollment census total for grade twelve (12) is compared to the school enrollment census total for grade eleven (11) of the previous year.

5.02.1 An example of the calculation used to determine the dropout rate for grades 9 through 12 is as follows:

5.02.1 (a) If the number of dropouts for grade nine was 1 and the Oct 1 enrollment was 56:

The 9th grade dropout rate is 1/56 = .0179 or 1.79%

5.02.1 (b) If the number of dropouts for grade 10 was 2 and the Oct 1 enrollment was 60:

The 10^th grade dropout rate is 2/60 = .0333 or 3.33%

5.02.1 (c) If the number of dropouts for grade 11 was 4 and the Oct 1 enrollment was 54:

The 11^th grade dropout rate is 4/54 = .0741 or 7.41%

5.02.1 (d) If the number of dropouts for grade 12 was 3 and the Oct 1 enrollment was 57:

The 12^th grade dropout rate is 3/57 = .0526 or 5.26%

6.00 DETERMINING THE GRADUATION OR COMPLETION RATE

6.01 The graduation rate, as defined by the Department of Education, shall be tracked for students in grades nine through twelve (9-12).

6.02 The graduation rate indicates the percentage of students enrolled during grade 9 through 12, and completing grade 12 without dropping out

6.02.1 An example of the calculation to determine the graduation rate using the sample dropout calculation rate in Section 5 is as follows:

6.02.1 (a) Step 1: Calculate the completion rate for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 for the students in the graduating class by subtracting the dropout rate of each grade from 1.

Grade 09: (1 - .0179) = .9821

Grade 10: (1 - .0333) = .9667

Grade 11: (1 - .0741) = .9259

Grade 12: (1 - .0526) = .9474

6.02.1(b) Step 2: Multiply all four completion rates together. (.9821) (.9667)(.9259)(.9474) = .8328

6.02.1(c) Step 3: Multiply the results in Step 2 by 100 to indicate the percentage.(.8328) (IOO) = 83.28 or an 83.3% graduation rate.

7.00 REPORTING GRADUATION AND COMPLETION RATES

7.01 Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, each school will report to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) the dropout rate for each grade within the school in a format designated by the ADE.

7.02 Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, each school with a grade 12 will report to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) the graduation rate for the school in a format designated by the ADE.

Notes

005.19.04 Ark. Code R. § 005

7/7/2004