The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

March 12, 2010

Schools make progress in key areas

State report shows dropouts, suspension, crime on decline in Edgecombe

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

More students staying in school, less suspensions and less school crime and violence are all areas a report released by the state Department of Public Instruction revealed about Edgecombe County Public Schools.

The 2008-09 Consolidated Report on these three areas illustrated that ECPS has made improvements that have surpassed neighboring counties and state averages.

"It is our job to be sure the dots are connected and everyone is working together on these areas. As we have seen these numbers improve, the district is poised to see continued increases in academic achievement as well," said Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon.

School crime and violence in ECPS has decreased by more than half it's reported cases during the 2007-08 school year. There were 30 reportable acts in grades 9-12, with a rate of 13 percent per 1,000 students during 2007-08. During the 2008-09 school year, there were 14 reportable acts with a rate of 6.49 percent per 1,000 students.

There are 17 acts that schools are required to report ranging from possession of controlled substance in violation of law to death by other than natural causes.

The state experienced a decrease of 1.4 percent from 11,276 to 11,116. The current rate per 1,000 students across the state is 7.59 percent. Nash-Rocky Mount Schools had 64 acts of school crime and violence, Martin County had 8 acts and Pitt County had 103 acts. The average daily membership (enrollment) varies at each of the schools in grades 9-12 with Pitt County having the highest enrollment and Martin County having the lowest.

An area that the school district has been focusing on for a number of years is suspensions, which has been targeted with the implementation of the district-wide Positive Behavior Support program. PBS rewards students for exhibiting good behavior and discipline.

Witherspoon said partnering PBS with Professional Learning Communities and technology has contributed to the improvements the district has been able to achieve.

"We connected the dots with our programs and initiatives, professional learning communities, positive behavior support, and the integration of technology in the teaching and learning process," he said.

"The right interventions will keep students from falling through the cracks, and different learning environments, including the use of technology will provide more opportunities for students to be successful."

ECPS has made decreases in short-term suspensions in grades 9-12 with 1,534 students out of school for 1-10 days for discipline issues in 2007-08 compared to 716 students in 2008-09. In comparison, Martin County had 563 short-term suspensions, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools had 2,460 and Pitt County had 4,046.

State-wide the amount of short-term suspensions decreased by 4.7 percent from 2007-08 to 2008-09.

The amount of dropouts is an area that Witherspoon is proud the district made progress in, but cited that further improvements need to be made.

"The dropout number, while lower, should continue to decrease for students' benefit. We will examine which students are still at-risk for dropping out and continue the interventions. For example, we will still increase capacity alternative school and explore the creation of a 'twilight' or evening school program as well," Witherspoon said.

The dropout rate for grades 9-12 in ECPS moved from 6.83 percent in 2007-08 to 4.05 percent in 2008-09. All neighboring counties experienced a decrease in dropouts as well. Martin County moved from 5.66 percent to 3.3 percent. Nash-Rocky Mount Schools rate moved from 6.76 percent to 5.58 percent and Pitt County Schools decreased from 6.44 percent to 6.42 percent. North Carolina's dropout average decreased from 4.97 to 4.27.

State Superintendent June Atkinson said that the improvements made across the state will lead to more academic success with the connectedness of the three areas.

"These three areas of concern are closely connected to high school graduation rates and our students' academic success," Atkinson said.

"We know that students who avoid crime and violence and the consequences that go with such behavior are more likely to stay in school and graduate on time."

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