aterial of the 10th Annual meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Development |23-25 April 2014 | Stockholm, Sweden More info http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/10th-fplg-meeting.htm

1. Reducing dropout rates
Preventative and remedial
interventions utilized in a
Swedish context within the Plug
In project
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2. Risk factors described as grounds for intervention: ”disengaged”
students
• Low achievement
• Attendance
• Issues with self-esteem, confidence
• Special needs (structure)
• Disorders (neuropsychiatric)
• Mental health problems
• Physical health problems
• ”Social” problems (home)
• Language challenges

3. Strengthening ”school connectedness”: Engaging
disengaged students
• Behavioral: attendance, follow-up of assignments and school work and
individual study plans (including extra-curricular)
• Academic: close monitoring of results, grades, learning
• Cognitive: connection school and work, future objectives, dreams and
plans, relevance and meaningfulness of school, interest in learning, learning
strategies, problem-solving, etc. self-regulation
• Psychological/affective): identification with school norms, value of
school success, sense of belonging, connectedness with others (peers and
staff), support, sense of safety community etc.
(Fuhrlong, Christensen, 2008; Sinclair et al. 2003; Lehr
et.al. 2003, 2004, 2008; Lamb, 2008 m.fl.m.fl)

4. Intervention strategies Plug In
• Holistic focus
• Recognizing the individual within the context
Collaboration, multi-skilled teams
Collaboration student-coaches (case managers)
Collaboration school-world of work
• Strengthen connectedness (academic, cognitive, psychological)
Academic support
Cognitive ”tools” - mental training, CBT, MI, strengthen motivation, resiliance,
Career and educational counselling
”Relational leadership” – student teacher interactions, attitudes and
Values education, life skills, ”equal treatment plans”, non-discriminatory policy
health promoting
• Flexibility (organization, content, instruction)
Individual program of study (holistic, health, life skills, career paths, internships)
Academic support (based on needs, content, structure, ”pre-emptive”)
Case managers/student coaches find individualized support
Alternative school
Student-centrerad instruction, online, set of courses (number order)

5. Intervention strategies Plug In
Developing effective forms for follow-
up
• (IT)-systems for check up (preventative and
remedial)
• ”right competence”: coaches, social &
emotional (EQ), multi-skilled team
• finding ”venues” for contact and strategies:
home visits, youth clubs, societies,
associations, train station, facebook, text
messages
• collaboration with important actors (schools
employment office, social services)
• preventative work with schools: transitions,
check for absence, coaching
• follow-up after interventions (case-
management model): job offices,
internships, school
Developing ”effective” interventions
• holistic focus
• strengthen connectedness – build
relationships, MI, strengthen motivation.
coaching, build resiliance, cognitive tools
(CBT), social/basic skills, study techniques,
educational and career guidance, internships,
pratical experience, study visits
• health promoting: physical, mental, life
skills
• flexibilty (organization, content, instruction.)
• individual pathways (tailor-made program with
holistic focus)
• flexible instruction, online, student-centrerad,
practical experience, work, collaboration
school-world of work, ” right” intensity, kick-
start courses

6. Dropout prevention: targetting the individual but aiming
at system-level/policy change
• How much ”flexibility” can be achieved in upper secondary
school?
• In cases of health problems (mental, physical)
• In cases of special needs
• In shaping individual programmes (number of subjects/classes/order of
classes etc)
• Related to changes of programme of study/school?
• Education for life?: How holistic need the focus be?
• How can the ”care structure” be strengthened?
• How are families and communities involved as partners?

7. Kontakt för PlugInnovation.se
Kontakt:
Anna Liljeström
E-mail: anna.liljestrom@grkom.se
Tele: 0709 709 304
Processledare PlugInnovation
Pedagogiskt Centrum
GR Utbildning