Cycle 4 of the Statewide Information System reporting process is due December 15, 1999. One of the components of this cycle is the "Student Dropout/Withdrawal Information Report" for Grades 7-12. Portions of this report will be the basis for the "School Dropout" indicator within the accountability section of the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP). It is, therefore, extremely important for this report to accurately reflect the status of students who have left your district.
Only students who have left your district for the following reasons will be considered dropouts for purposes of ACTAAP: Failing Grades, Suspended/Expelled, Lack of Interest, Conflict with School, Economic Hardship, Pregnancy/Marriage, Peer Conflict, Alcohol/Drugs, Health Problems, and Other. The "Other" category will include: Lack of Attendance, Job Corps, and No Show.
All other reporting categories are for statistical purposes only and will not be reflected in a district's dropout rate.
When the data is processed, students with dropout/withdrawal dates between October 1, 1998 and September 30, 1999 will be counted. If a student re-enters and is in attendance on or before September 30, 1999 after being initially dropped/withdrawn, he or she is not a dropout and should not appear on the report. Similarly, if a student is originally dropped for one reason (for example, "Lack of Interest") and is later found to be in another category (for example, "Enrolled in Another School") that student's withdrawal record should be changed to reflect the latest code.
If you have any questions as to how to make changes in these codes or in any other aspect of the Cycle 4 report, please contact your APSCN representative.