about the project

WestEd and its subcontractor, Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR), is conducting an evaluation of the Texas School Dropout Prevention and Reentry Program Grants.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) awarded grants to 10 high schools to use the Communities in Schools (CIS) model to address dropout prevention.

In addition to the 10 grants, WestEd is assessing both an online resource manual on the dropout issue for Texas educators developed by another contractor and the effectiveness of a statewide training on the CIS model to disseminate the program to educators throughout the state.

The project involves three tasks: 1) analyzing the impact of the CIS model; 2) conducting a content review of the online resource manual; and 3) analyzing the impact of the statewide training on partnerships.

To complete Task 1, WestEd and DIR will conduct interviews and reviews of personal graduation plans during visits to the 10 participating campuses.

In addition, WestEd will analyze service and outcome data from secondary data sources provided by TEA. WestEd will report to TEA on the effectiveness of these grants in improving student outcomes at the 10 high schools.

To complete Task 2, WestEd will review dropout prevention literature and create an inventory of promising practices from this literature to assess the online resource manual.

In addition, WestEd will conduct an interview with 10 individual manual users. WestEd will report to TEA on the comprehensiveness and usefulness of this tool.

Task 3 will involve surveys of both statewide training participants and the educators around the state whom the participants train.

WestEd will report to TEA on the effectiveness of the statewide training in disseminating the CIS model and encouraging community member and school provider partnerships.