The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is now implementing a comprehensive dropout prevention and recovery program. This program will level multiple services, funding resources and the needs of dropouts and their families.
The program My Future, My Decision was implemented by LAUSD’s Dropout Prevention and Recovery staff and supporters. It integrates a comprehensive approach in reducing dropout rates. It focuses on the problems and needs of potential dropouts to regain schooling. It is committed to assist and counsel students to earn a diploma.
A study shows that one out of three high school students fail to graduate. Many students have low self esteem that they give up midway in their schooling.
The growing number of dropouts will make them four times more likely to be unemployed. A school dropout is more likely to become a prisoner, living in poverty, unhealthy, and divorced. He does not vote and participate in the community. He ends up in low paying jobs also.
The Los Angeles Unified School District campaigns vigorously to solve this problem. It extends an outreach effort through student friendly communications like radios, text messaging and peer to peer networking sites. It has developed several programs to encourage students to finish school.
One program is the Appointment of (DPA) Diploma Project Advisers and (PSA) Pupil Service and Attendance Counselors. It provides the placement of 80 DPAs and 300 PSAs in schools having high dropout rates. They help develop and implement individual educational blueprints. DPAs and PSA counselors work with the school staff to develop incentive programs like providing a quarterly parent meeting and intervention services upon enrolment.
The newer campaign is called My Future, My Decision. It taps the students for personal responsibility through multimedia broadcast and communication channels. Alternative communication channels include the specific website, peer to peer social networking and cell phone texting.
There is also higher educational institutions partnership. It aims to expand educational programs for high school students of the Los Angeles Community College District.
In fixed programs for professional development, the staff works directly with at risk students. They use the Parent Student Resource Guidebook to support and in explain educational options.
When necessary, they visit door to door to reach out to the students. They counsel and explain how they can complete course credits and other requirements.
The expanded youth employment program promotes learn to earn year round programs with the help of the mayor’s office and civic organizations. It gives them the opportunity to work while studying.
Network development provides educational options while working such as independent study program, alternative education work centers, 6 education career centers, 56 community day schools and 18 adult schools.
Other elements include a new parental notification system, online credit recovery classes and accurate mapping and tracking systems for dropout rates. Another program option is the collaboration of community based organizations and officials.
In the end, students agree that dropping is a big mistake. A poll released by the National Governors Association in 2005 found out that young people who still want to go to college has a rate of 87 percent. Los Angeles Unified School District is hoping for a big change, hoping to give students a better future.
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