Interventions help at-risk students, but more parent support needed
by Linda Smoley
Hoping to uncover good news, we have been busy gathering data on the interventions we have been using to help students at risk of not graduating.
First, for the good news: Of 208 freshmen and sophomores referred by teachers to the Success Zone for extra help due to a failing grade in a class, 110 passed the course for which they were referred. Of the 105 juniors and seniors referred to the Academic Enhancement Center, 49 passed the course for which they were referred. In addition, students have earned more than 150 credits in 12 weeks in our new School Within a School.
While we are pleased to report those encouraging numbers, there is another side to the story: Despite all the referrals made to the intervention areas and despite more than 1000 one-on-one administrative contacts with at-risk students, more than 300 students failed at least one class, and dozens of students have had multiple truancies.
Research shows that we have the best chance of helping these students succeed if their families become involved in their education. We firmly believe that if all of our parents followed these steps, many more of our students would be successful:
1. Check your student’s grades on Pinnacle regularly and contact teachers through the e-mail address listed in Pinnacle when you have a concern;
2. Follow up on Parent Link phone calls saying your child missed one or more periods—call 239-7000, Option 2.
3. Stress that you expect your son or daughter to be in EVERY class unless you have excused him or her through the school.
4. Have consequences for a child who is failing or truant. For example, take the cell phone or car away until the teen brings up grades and/or attends every class regularly for a period of time, as verified by our attendance office;
5. Talk with your student regularly about what he/she is learning and what is going on in his/her classes
6. Encourage your child to explore careers and consider post-secondary options, stressing that education beyond high school is essential for success in today’s world.
