Early Warning System Resources
Free Early Warning System Software from Betterhighschools.org
The National High School Center's Early Warning System (EWS) Tool v2.0, a free Microsoft Excel-based program, is a redesigned and enhanced adaptation of the National High School Center’s original Early Warning System Tool v1.0, released in 2008. The EWS Tool v2.0 identifies students who show early warning signs that they are at risk for dropping out of high school and relies on readily available student-level data.
Doing What Works
Research-based education practices online. Doing What Works (DWW) is a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of DWW is to create an online library of resources that may help teachers, schools, districts, states and technical assistance providers implement research-based instructional practice
Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide: Dropout Prevention
This is a national practice guide; therefore, it does not have much detail on the first step in implementing their recommendations, however it is very useful for state and district leaders. It provides guidance on potential policy changes that could positively influence graduation and dropout rates as well as increased student engagement.
Approaches to Dropout Prevention: Heeding Early Warning Signs With Appropriate Interventions
This guide offers a summary of research behind why youth dropout, and breaks down the information by grade level. It gives details about possible indicators for an early warning system. The best part of this document is that it initiates the second step of looking at complimentary intervention strategies and programs to address why youth dropout of school. This document would be a good read before developing an early warning system because it will help with designing the system outputs.
http://www.betterhighschools.com/docs/NHSC_ApproachestoDropoutPrevention.pdf
Identifying Potential Dropouts: Key Lessons for Building an Early Warning Data System. A Dual Agenda of High Standards and High Graduation Rates.
This guide, like it states, is geared toward policymakers. It makes a good case for why an early warning system is essential in systematic reform in the fight to increase graduation rates. The best part of this document is it provides a great overview of the dropout issue, why early warning systems are needed, and how a school can benefit from implementing an early warning system instead of the shotgun approach of implementing interventions without proper data.
Closing the Graduation Gap: A Superintendent’s Guide for Planning Multiple Pathways to Graduation
The guide includes definitions of key ideas and strategies, tools to help superintendents and district staff begin planning, case studies from districts, and information resources.
http://www.ytfg.org/documents/ClosingtheGraduationGapFinal13October2008.pdf