Not for profit

• Gil Keppens is awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the FWO (Research Foundation Flanders) to learn about new and emerging ways to analyze school attendance data. It is well known in the literature that intervention of school absenteeism is hindered by the lack of reliable criteria to differentiate between problematic and non-problematic school absenteeism. In this project, Gil aims to fill this gap by applying the relatively new method of optimal matching to search for patterns in the timing, duration, and sequence of school non-attendance. In addition, the project aims to relate these identified patterns in non-attendance to educational outcomes and validate these patterns through a cross-national comparison. In the end, this project aims to propose uniform and standardized criteria for differentiation between problematic and non-problematic absenteeism to inform stakeholders on the timing of intervention and to stimulate meaningful comparisons of school absenteeism across studies and different countries. For further information, please contact Gil Keppens.
• Lana Van Den Berghe is a pre-doctoral researcher and teaching assistant at Ghent University (Department of Special Needs Education) and is working on research entitled: “Connectedness matters: An ecological navigation through the complex landscape of school dropout.” The purpose of this study is to explore the process of early school leaving and good practices (practice-based evidence) for the support of students at-risk. Furthermore, second-chance education is emphasized where students’ (adults) motivation to “take a second chance” is highlighted together with their educational needs. For further information, please contact Lana Van Den Berghe. 
• “Together against school drop-out” is a project implemented on a regional level, more specifically on the level of the Flemish provinces and the Brussels Capital Region. A coordinator is appointed to each region (one per region, six in total). Each coordinator is in charge of a regional network bringing together local stakeholders within all policy domains involved: work, education, and welfare. These regional networks aim to facilitate cooperation between the different stakeholders and to set up, implement, and evaluate a local action plan. These networks are a portal for the Flemish government to share and receive information on new (policy) initiatives and difficulties in the field. Each region has its action plan and partnership agreements on truancy. Since September 2020, the policy entity of wellbeing finances a part-time coordinator for each region (6 in total) for two years. They will work on dropout in primary and secondary education, in tandem with truancy coordinators, financed by the Department of Education and Training. More info here. 
• The guidance committee supervising the project “Together against school drop-out” meets six times a year. In this group, the entities of the Ministry of Education cooperate to implement the action plan “Together against school drop-out”. The entities cooperating in this committee are The Department of Education and Training, the Agency of Education Services, and the Control Service of Education. The guidance committee discusses the implementation of all activities and the members keep each other informed about their initiatives.
• "Project PEP TALK! is a project which aims to help disengaged and vulnerable students in vocational education to prepare for the school-to-work or school-to-higher education transition. The project uses individualized counselling sessions to guide students who are still in school but who may be at risk of leaving school early or who may have limited career options. The project is managed by the socialist trade union who, through its knowledge of the labour market, aims to bridge the gap between school life and adult working life. Every session starts with answering questions students have about his or her professional future. The project is about establishing relationships of trust with disengaged pupils and offering information and help - in collaboration with mental health professionals - if needed. The project started in 2016, and thanks to a grant from the European Social Foundation, will continue until 2022 when its findings will be published. More info here or contact Lisa Van Quickelberghe.