(a)(1) A child who is 17 years of age or older may withdraw from public school prior to graduation if both of the following circumstances exist:
a. Written consent is granted by the child’s parent or legal guardian.
b. An exit interview is conducted where the student and the student’s parent or legal guardian have been advised that withdrawal from school shall likely reduce the student’s future earning potential and increase the student’s likelihood of being unemployed in the future. During the exit interview, the student who is withdrawing from school shall be given information that has been prepared and supplied by the State Department of Education regarding the detrimental impacts and effects of early withdrawal from school along with any available training and employment opportunity pr
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(a)(1) A child who is 17 years of age or older may withdraw from public school prior to graduation if both of the following circumstances exist:
a. Written consent is granted by the child’s parent or legal guardian.
b. An exit interview is conducted where the student and the student’s parent or legal guardian have been advised that withdrawal from school shall likely reduce the student’s future earning potential and increase the student’s likelihood of being unemployed in the future. During the exit interview, the student who is withdrawing from school shall be given information that has been prepared and supplied by the State Department of Education regarding the detrimental impacts and effects of early withdrawal from school along with any available training and employment opportunity programs, provided such information is available.
(2) Information provided during an exit interview by a local high school shall include materials describing available adult education programs and services offered by eligible adult education providers. The materials shall include, but not be limited to, General Education Diploma (GED) preparation services, the nontraditional high school diploma option program, and other programs and pathways available for earning industry certifications and credentials. The materials shall be developed by the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System and approved by the State Department of Education. The local high school shall also provide a withdrawing student with a copy of his or her academic records, including his or her current transcript, contact information for available counseling services, and any requested referrals to available adult education programs.
(b) The State Department of Education shall work with local public school systems that have the lowest four-year graduation rates. The department shall incorporate specific dropout prevention strategies, target resources, and gather data that will improve graduation rates and educational outcomes in all grades in all public schools. The department shall develop specific methods of targeted intervention or identify appropriate existing methods for local public school systems that have a four-year graduation rate less than the percentage as determined by the State Board of Education. These interventions may include the following:
(1) Early intervention for students who fail Algebra I, or any ninth grade reading or math class, and have insufficient credits to be promoted.
(2) Alternative education programs designed to reengage dropouts including, but not limited to, dual enrollment courses at the community college level and participation in the nontraditional high school diploma option.
(3) Increased availability of advanced placement courses.
(4) Offering full course fee waivers for students who are eligible for free or reduced lunches, when enrolled in dual credit courses.
(5) Flexible programs for older students who are currently not enrolled.
(6) Comprehensive coaching for middle school and high school students who are below grade level in reading and math or who are at risk due to poor attendance, behavior, or safety issues including, but not limited to, harassment and bullying.
(7) Teacher advisories and other supports that are designed to specifically address the needs of those students who are most at risk of dropping out of school by providing opportunities to build positive connections with peers and teachers and providing assistance with course selection, school performance, and completion of graduation requirements. Students who are most at risk of dropping out of school include, but are not limited to, those students who move often, have poor attendance, or have multiple suspensions or discipline issues.
(8) Strategies that are specifically designed to improve high school graduation rates for those teenagers who are at the highest risk of dropping out, including, but not limited to, students in the foster care system, pregnant students, student parents, English as second language students, and students with special educational needs.
(c) The State Department of Education, in addition to other information and data, shall compile all of the following data to ensure that the dropout prevention program, and local versions of the program, are based upon evidence-based research, are data-driven, and show continuous improvement in all of the following:
(1) The total number of high school suspensions related to truancy.
(2) The total number of students enrolled in alternative education programs, including the nontraditional high school diploma option.
(3) The total number of students who have been reenrolled in programs with flexible schedules or community college programs.
(4) The total number of students who have failed Algebra I or ninth grade reading or math.
(5) The total number of students who are repeating the ninth grade.
(6) The total number of students receiving remedial assistance in the ninth grade.
(d) The State Department of Education shall prepare and submit to the Legislature a written report that documents all of the following:
(1) The outcomes of the dropout prevention strategies to date, at the local school system level.
(2) Any planned modification of school system dropout prevention strategies and activities, based on the data compiled.
(e) Each local education agency shall report to the State Department of Education, on a quarterly or more frequent basis, student withdrawal data. This data shall include specific information regarding the names and number of students who have withdrawn from each school district. The State Department of Education shall enter into a data sharing agreement with the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System so this data may be accessed as needed.