What is ReConnect? Students drop out of school for various reasons. ReConnect is designed to offer the support and flexibility to help students, who have either dropped out or are at risk of dropping out, get their diploma.

Who do we Serve? 1. Internal – students who have essentially dropped out of SHS and are recommended by high school staff 2. Option Students – with approval of home district administration and Director of Student Outreach (150 credit minimum) 3. Students who have dropped out of school 4. Transition Students – transient or temporarily placed students preparing to enter SHS 5. Expulsion/Long-Term Suspension – late afternoon support program

“Typical” Clientele Chronically truant students who have fallen behind Teen parents Working teens/those living on their own Dropouts - those who have officially withdrawn or just left school Students who stopped going to school and have changed their minds and want to return Disengaged students who will not attend high school but still wish to obtain a diploma Significantly credit deficient students who require an accelerated way to "catch up" Homeless or abandoned students Transient students Students in transition (any number of issues) Expelled or long term suspended students

Why is graduation so important to our Community? High school dropouts are four times as likely to be unemployed as those who have completed four or more years of college. High school graduates earn $143 more per week than high school dropouts. College graduates earn $336 more per week than high school graduates ($479 more per week than high school dropouts). Dropouts are more likely to require public assistance than graduates of high school. Dropouts comprise a disproportionate percentage of the nation's prison and death row inmates. 82 percent of prisoners in America are high school dropouts. Dropouts live on the average 9.2 years less than someone with a high school diploma. 74 percent of students who had dropped out of school said that if they were able to relive the experience, they would have stayed in school.

How do we help our students reach graduation? Drop-out prevention and drop- out retrieval outreach Academic and Career Advising Student and Family Counseling One on One Assistance with A+ and On-Line Learning Home-Based Instruction Extended Hours Work credit when appropriate Tutoring Offer a state diploma "Curriculum compacting" will be used to accelerate course completion Credit recovery will give “credit" for prior knowledge and skills based on assessment Individualized learning/graduation plans Flexible hours Located off SHS campus Online courses and face-to-face instruction Ongoing admission

Important Clarifications Scottsbluff Students cannot “play the system”. SHS Principal and Counselor approve all transfers (150 credit minimum to attend) Out of district option students require specific approval Students receive a district diploma (not SHS) Curriculum is a combination of online learning, one to one instruction and small group instruction This program is self funded and does not impact funding at SHS ReConnect students do not have the same privileges as SHS students (ability to participate in extra-curricular activities, etc.)

How do we help beyond graduation from high school? Personalized education includes future goals for all students who attend through the use of career assessment tools such as the Strong Interest Inventory to offer students guidance in career choices. Collaboration with WNCC to provide students with certifications in OSHA, HAZMAT and Basic Nursing Assistant courses. Student will also be given the opportunity to take for credit courses offered at WNCC in areas such as English, speech, math, welding etc. to start their road to college or the workforce. Student will be referred to the Educational Opportunities Center and WNCC Admissions offices to prepare students for the transition into the workforce or college.

Current Status Thirty Five Students are currently enrolled Four students pending enrollment Students have acquired number of credits Six Pending Graduates with one student enrolling full time at WNCC in January Six students have obtained college credits while attending ReConnect Educational Opportunity Center partnering for class offerings

Questions?