The Training School of Maestri di Strada “Carla Melazzini”: a teachers participatory action research

In Italy, school dropout rates are still too high (www.cgiamestre.com). This complex phenomenon is caused by factors external and internal to the school system (De Witte et al., 2013). The Third Sector implements numerous educational projects to counter school dropout, using experimental approaches (Brighenti, 2009). The Association Maestri di Strada (MdS) is a non-profit organization that has long implemented complex interventions to counter school dropout. In the 2022-23 school year, MdS began a Teachers-Participatory Action Research with a group of 15 external professionals (6 teachers, 7 educators and 2 university students) with the aim of gathering their views on an appropriate model to combat school dropout (Parrello et al, 2019). In this study we present the results of the analysis of the participants narratives about their path. Our findings showed that this training course allowed participants to develop their professional identity, reflect on their practices, acquire effective methodologies against school dropout.