Graduation and Dropout Process (GAD)
The 2006-2007 graduation rates will be calculated by tracking individual students who first enrolled in ninth grade in fall 2003, and graduated four years later with a regular diploma. Continuing students who were not reported as diploma recipients were recorded for accountability purposes as “off-track.”
This new calculation attempts to provide a more accurate rate to assist schools, districts, and the state in developing education policies and, ultimately, help greater numbers of students to succeed in school and earn a diploma. In addition, the method meets the accountably requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the national standards set forth in the National Governors Association (NGA) Graduation Counts Compact. The GAD (Graduation and Dropout) application will be open in April 2008 and 2009 for exit code changes or extensions prior to final calculations.
In the future, beginning Fall, 2008 Exit Status Codes will be audited as a normal course of the “pupil” membership audits. School Districts/PSAs will be required to provide documentation to support the use of the Exit Status Codes. These audits, completed as a part of the pupil membership audits, will determine the appropriate status code that can be used for purposes of the GAD calculation.
For 2008 and 2009 only, ISD Pupil Accounting Auditors are required to conduct an audit of exit code changes for the 2007 and 2008 GAD application. Supporting documentation will be necessary to justify code change requests. Copies of the documentation will be required to meet this standard. See Table B”
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