High School Graduation Initiative (Diploma Project)

Mission Statement

The Diploma Project will implement scientifically based, sustainable and widely replicated strategies for school dropout prevention and re-entry; including early identification of at-risk youth, intensive case management, support for transitions, enrollment in appropriate educational programs, and parent engagement. The Diploma Project will engage several community partners, as well as parent groups toward a common vision of graduation for all students.

Purpose

The purpose of the Diploma Project is to reduce the dropout rates in the selected schools by utilizing a three-tiered approach: 1) identifying at-risk students at the feeder middle school and providing academic and transitional interventions; 2) increasing 9th to 10th grade promotion rates through tiered interventions and supports; and, 3) recovering students that have dropped out by providing multiple pathways and assistance to diploma/GED attainment.

Program Design

The High School Graduation Initiative provides a Graduation Promotion Counselor at the six select high schools and the feeder middle schools with the highest matriculation to the respective high schools. The Diploma Project students will be identified utilizing MyData At-Risk reports triggering risk factors in attendance, English Language Arts, Math, and Behavior.

In addition, the High School Graduation Initiative also provides five Re-entry Graduation Promotion Counselors that will focus on re-engaging students that have dropped out from the select high schools.

Graduation Promotion Counselors and Re-entry Graduation Promotion Counselors will collaborate with school administrators, deans, counselors, nurses, teachers, parents, support staff, and community agencies to implement an evidence-based dropout prevention and re-entry blueprint that will provide students with the best educational services and promote high school success.

Diploma Project Pilot Schools

The following criterion was used in making the school selection: annual dropout rates above the state average, 9th grade retention rates, and school attendance rates.
 

Diploma Project Schools

 For additional information, please contact:

Pupil Services 213 241 3844