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Policy JFC

Dropout Prevention Committee

The definition of “dropout” according to the Maine Education and School Statutes is: any  person who has withdrawn for any reason except death, or has been expelled from school  before graduation or completion of a program of studies and who has not enrolled in  another educational institution or program. The following provisions apply to the dropout  prevention committee:

  1. Committee. Each Superintendent, with School Board approval, shall annually  establish a separate dropout prevention committee for each individual school unit  under the Superintendent’s supervision.

  1. Membership. The dropout prevention committee shall be composed of the  following members:  

  • A member of the School Board selected by that Board;  

  • A school administrator selected by the Superintendent’  

  • A teacher and a school counselor selected by the school administrative  unit’s teacher organization;  

  • A parent selected by the unit’s organized parent group, or if no organized  parent group exists, by the School Board;  

  • A school attendance coordinator from the district selected by the  Superintendent;  

  • A high school student selected by the dropout prevention committee members. 

  1. Responsibilities. The following provisions apply to responsibilities of the  dropout prevention committee. The dropout committee shall:  

  • Study the problem of dropouts, habitual truancy and need for alternative  programs, kindergarten to grade 12.  

  • Make recommendations for addressing the problems; and  

  • Submit a plan of action to the School Board. 

  1. The dropout prevention committee shall consider the following when developing  its plan:  

  • Reasons why students dropout of school;  

  • Maintenance of continuing contacts with recent dropouts in order to  extend opportunities for alternate educational programs, counseling and  referral;  

  • Education of teachers and administrators about the dropout problem;  

  • Use of human services programs to help dropouts;  

  • The school administrative unit’s policies on suspension, expulsion and  other disciplinary action; and  

  • Discriminatory practices and attitudes within the school administrative unit.  

Legal Reference: Title 20-A MRSA Section 5103  

Adopted: January 4, 1978  

Revised: February 6, 2002  

Revised: February 23, 2005 

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