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Dropout
Additional Program Information
Developer and contact
ALAS was developed by Katherine Larson and Russell Rumberger at the University of California, Santa Barbara in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. Additional program information can be obtained from the developers. Address: ALAS Dropout Prevention, 3875-A Telegraph Rd. #155, Ventura, CA 93003. Email: support@alasdropoutprevention.com. Website: www.alasdropoutprevention.com. Phone: 805-765-5385.
Scope of use
ALAS was originally implemented in 1990 at a junior high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. More recently, the ALAS model has been implemented at public schools in the Glendale Unified School District in Los Angeles County.
Description of intervention
ALAS serves students identified as at risk of dropping out because of low academic performance and behavior problems. The intervention consists of six related strategies:
- Monitor attendance. Student attendance is monitored period-by-period, and students are required to make up missed school time. Parents are contacted daily about student truancy or extended absences.
- Improve student social and task-related problem-solving skills. During the first year of participation, ALAS students receive 10 weeks of instruction in problem-solving and self-control skills using the ALAS Resilience Builder© curriculum. After the first year, participants receive follow-up instruction on behavior change.
- Provide feedback from teachers to parents and students. Teachers provide weekly and, if needed, daily feedback through the couselor/mentor to students and parents about how students are doing with classroom behavior, assignments, and homework.
- Teach parents how to participate in schools and how to manage their child’s behavior. Parents are trained in parent-child problem solving and parent participation in schools. Parents receive instruction on how to reduce their child’s inappropriate behavior and promote desirable behavior.
- Provide recognition and bonding activities. ALAS students participate in social events set up by the program, and staff talk with parents to let them know their child met goals or improved behavior.
- Connect students and families with community services. ALAS staff helps students and parents use community and social services such as psychiatric and mental health services and alcohol and drug counseling.
ALAS is delivered on the school campus by a team of supervisors, counselors/mentors, volunteers, and clerical staff.2 The intervention is intended to provide students with support and follow-up as needed across multiple years of program participation.
Cost
The intervention cost $1,185 per participant a year (expressed in 2005 dollars).3 The bulk of costs are for ongoing activities—mostly salaries of supervisors, counselors, and clerical staff. Some startup costs are associated with training ALAS staff and teachers to deliver the problem solving skills curriculum to students.
3 The Consumer Price Index was used to convert the cost estimates expressed in 1990 dollars to 2005 dollars. Cost estimates from Gándara et al. (1998).