The Chronicle‘s Jennifer Radcliffe has a nice write-up of yesterday’s efforts by HISD to convince dropouts to return to school:
All told, 49 dropouts re-enrolled in school Saturday and another 657 committed to returning to school.
Excited by last year’s success, HISD leaders ramped up efforts Saturday, nearly tripling the number of volunteers to 1,400 and doubling the number of schools that would be covered in the canvassing to 16.
With 2,400 homes to visit this year, the volunteers had their work cut out for them.
[snip]
Weaving through streets and across railroad tracks, Saavedra’s caravan made its way to a rundown apartment, where 17-year-old Julian Duarte has been living since he moved from Mexico City in April.
The boy said he’s been working in a nearby factory to help support his sick father.
He said he’d would like to go to school but doesn’t know any English.
Saavedra recommended HISD’s Newcomers Charter School and the boy agreed to try to enroll.
[snip]
Across town, teams from Lee High School worked to track down 400 students who hadn’t yet reported to school. Many of the students moved over the summer or enrolled in other schools.
Some had babies or started working full time. One was just discouraged by math.
The home visits are legwork that principals and the district’s 10 dropout specialists do year-round, said Principal Steve Amstutz,who was thrilled to have the help of volunteers and students Saturday.
“Many hands make light work,” he said. “This would take me forever.”
Amstutz’s team persuaded two students to re-enroll.
“The fact that we found two girls that I think we can get back is so exciting. If we save just one … ,” volunteer Alice Fite said.
All we need now is an editorial from the Chronicle, acknowledging HISD’s efforts to convince these young people to return to school, but I won’t hold my breath.
KRIV-26 ran a story on this last night which mentioned that the business community also participated in the reachout effort, highlighting (I assume) its concern about young adults coming to them without an adequate education.
And now I am guessing that HISD principals and dropout prevention specialists will be busy, busy, busy, helping these students follow through on their commitments.
RELATED: Dropouts Come Back to School in Historic Door-to-Door Campaign (HISD)
