To best address high school dropout rates, the South Salt Lake Cares Coalition has implemented a plan to gather information and identify risk factors. Each quarter, the SSL Cares Key Leaders group reviews reports from community leaders to help find partner organizations and offer advice.

In March, Promise SSL Deputy Director Bonnie Owens reported on social impacts that affect students, identifying extreme economic deprivation as a leading cause of high school dropout rates.

“Children who live in deteriorating neighborhoods, characterized by extreme poverty, poor living conditions and high unemployment rates, are more likely to experience alcohol and drug misuse, crime and delinquency, unplanned pregnancy and school dropout,” she said. “The data consistently suggests that economic deprivation in South Salt Lake is not driven by a single deficit, but by compounding structural stressors that are layered on family systems.”

Owens said families living below the federal poverty line, but also those living barely above it, face barriers for financial growth due to bureaucratic complexities and broken support systems. Without opportunities to gain financial traction, parents usually have several jobs and teens sometimes leave school in order to work and help pay for basic needs. 

The early learning committee found a lack of access to key developmental screenings for young children, and parental knowledge gaps, directly impacted learning. Educating parents on how to get screenings for developmental delays could help children get early diagnosis and assistance.

Family management also plays a key role in high school dropout rates. Leaving kids unsupervised, not creating or upholding expectations, and a lack of consequences or rewards make parenting ineffective. Teaching parents how family management skills can influence their teens could help students stay in school. 

Nicholas Pensari from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office spoke about how early-initiation into gang culture is a top risk factor for teen dropout rates. 

“Children who are aggressive or who have trouble controlling their impulses are at a higher risk for alcohol and other drug use, delinquency and violent behavior,” Pensari said. “It can increase the risk for teen pregnancy and school dropout.”

After conducting interviews with people including a probation officer, a faith leader and a junior high assistant principal, Pensari said aggressive behaviors can develop when there is a lack of structure or supervision. 

By teaching conflict resolution skills, creating empathy curriculum and providing opportunities where kids know there are trusted adults around, Pensari hopes to create a sense of community and belonging, possibly keeping teens away from gang behavior. 

The physical health committee noticed that a lack of safe transportation for physical activities leads to lower numbers of participants. While SSL has several after-school recreational programs, a student’s ability to get to these activities might be limited if parents aren’t available. Also, a lack of bilingual coaches directly affects student’s participation. 

Promise SSL Coordinator Grace Hagen chairs the after-school alliance committee and said low commitment to school is a risk factor for dropout. She said students who attend class regularly tend to think homework and school attendance are valuable, making it more likely to graduate.

“A consistent theme across all of our interviews was unmet basic needs, and that was combined with a lack of awareness about available supports,” Hagen said. “Parents who work long hours or multiple jobs to meet basic needs can lead to relying on older children for household responsibilities.”

This is not to say parents are not supportive of their child’s education, but meeting basic needs becomes the priority. 

The SSL Cares Key Leader group meets again in June to hear from committee chairs about their work on addressing key risk factors for dropout rates. To learn more about the SSL Cares Coalition, visit SSLC.gov.