Re-Engagement Center Overview Reengagement Centers: Key Element in a City Strategy to Recover Dropouts Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time Speakers: Andrew Moore, National League of Cities Kathy Hamilton, Boston Private Industry Council Gail Forbes-Harris, Boston Public Schools Justin Green, Philadelphia Youth Network Ken Karamichael, Rutgers University/Newark YE2S Center Greg Emmel, Omaha Directions Diploma (D2) Center Carolyn Miller, Omaha Directions Diploma (D2) Center Re-Engagement Center Overview

Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview The School District of Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Project Overview 440 N. Broad Street, Suite 1013 Philadelphia, PA 19130 Hotline: (215) 400-6700 Fax: (215) 400-4179 Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview

A True Cross-Systems Collaboration Seed funding from the Project U-Turn collaborative (Philadelphia Youth Network & William Penn Foundation) Commitment from district for space, personnel and operating funds Commitment from city for staffing support Regular engagement of all partners in design, implementation, and ongoing operation Partner with community based organizations Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview

Goals and Guiding Principles Connect individuals 15 and older who are out of school or in school and struggling, to a high school diploma, GED, or academic skills program Support a successful transition back to education by connecting students to social services and other resources as needed (e.g., childcare) Serve students in an environment that empowers them to reach their goals of returning to school Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview

Multiple Pathways to Graduation Philadelphia High School Diploma or Equivalency Programs for Youth and Adults Accelerated High Schools Educational Options Programs Gateway to College Other Programs Student enrollment varies * Ages 15-21 *13.5 or fewer high school credits prior to enrolling * Able to earn HS diploma before age 24 * Ages 17 and older * More than 8 HS credits prior to enrolling * Enrollment every 3 months * Must not be enrolled in regular day school * Ages 16-21 age 22 * Pass exam of 8th grade literacy and math ability GED * Ages 18 and older SDP Credit Recovery *Regularly enrolled HS students Skill Building Programs *Ages 16-21 * Computer based * Teacher based * Project based * Earn up to 12 credits per year * Classes held Oct- June, three sessions annually, Mon-Thurs, 3-6:30 p.m. *Earn 6-10 cr./yr * Dual enrollment * Earn up to thirty college credits * Earn up to 9 cr./yr towards diploma

Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview Services and Results Welcome & Intake Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessments (ASEBA) Meet with a Re-engagement Specialist TABE testing Referral to an appropriate program Scheduled orientation dates >9,000 since 2008 75% re-enroll within three months of initial contact ETO database Philadelphia Re-Engagement Center Overview

D2 Center, Omaha, Nebraska Greg Emmel & Carolyn Miller, Directors www.d2center.org 402-502-8534

Community Providers & Partners Omaha Organization Funding Sherwood Foundation City of Omaha Mutual of Omaha Foundation NE Crime Commission, Office of Violence Prevention Program Coordination Sherwood Foundation, private foundation Building Bright Futures, local nonprofit D2 Center Directors Greg Emmel Carolyn Miller D2 Center Intake Specialists and Administrative Support D2 Center Certified Teachers for Elective Credit Courses Community Providers & Partners School Districts Social Service Agencies Mental / Behavioral Health Post-Secondary Institutions Juvenile Justice Other BBF Programs Youth Academic Navigators (YAN Program with agency partners) Omaha D2 Center Overview

D2 Center Key Aspects City partnership: City of Omaha Truancy Prevention Program partially funds Youth Academic Navigators assigned to each youth for frequent contact and support; YANs employed by community-based agencies Elective credit courses: Taught by certified teachers; accelerated, flexible scheduling; small class size; literacy, numeracy, et al Incoming referrals: chiefly from community-based organizations, Douglas County Probation, Omaha Public Schools (OPS), BBF Teen & Young Parent Program, D2 Center staff & YANs Intake: Interview, online math & reading assessment (Wonderlic WBST), parent / guardian interview; followed by separate Action Plan meeting Outgoing referrals: BBF Teen & Young Parent Program, GEDs (Goodwill Youth Partnership, Metro CC, OPS), Gateway to College (Metro CC), housing assistance, drug/alcohol counseling, career exploration, etc. Data system: nFocus TraxSolutions Omaha D2 Center Overview

D2 Center Early Experience, Results applications (May 2011 - Jan. 2012) 83 Total active students 61 Total Building Bright Total Futures Teen Parents 15 Total Douglas County Probation Students 16 (2 on adult probation) Total enrollment in D2 Center courses* 18 Total D2 Center elective credits earned* 14 Total high school credits earned In progress Total High School Diplomas earned Omaha D2 Center Overview * through 1st semester 2011-2012

Omaha Multiple Pathways to Graduation (MPG) – in development Process: Outline current options; identify youth needs; determine gaps; sketch increased MPG options Cross-organizational: local school districts, post-secondary education, government, community agencies D2 Center, Building Bright Futures, City of Omaha, and Sherwood Foundation planned and hosted MPG Summit Nov. 2011 in partnership with NLC YEF Institute and JFF; panel included Mayor of Omaha Mayor, President of Metro Community College, and Commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education Showcase of existing MPG providers from 7 districts & 3 private institutions Omaha D2 Center Overview

BOSTON RE-ENGAGEMENT CENTER Gail Forbes Harris, Director - BPS Kathy Hamilton, Youth Transitions Coordinator – Boston PIC

How Boston approaches Dropout Outreach and Recovery Reach out to dropouts via phone, letter, Connect-Ed First visit: meet with youth, families Several visits: Help youth re-enroll in school: transcript assessment, school choice, enrollment Follow up bi-weekly to provide students with support to persist Hire adult professionals who were former dropouts Focus on building relationships, responsiveness Physical location Build relationships with other agencies Offer some computer-based classes on site, esp. when difficult to re-enroll

Boston REC Outreach and Dropout Recovery, SY10-11 1,891: Out of School Youth 1,621: 16 and Older, Out of School Youth 270: Under 16, Out of School Youth 700+ Engaged in “15 minute” conversation at Center 545 Connected to a school or educational options (7/2010 - 6/2011) 464 Re-enrolled in District, District Alt Ed, and CBO Alt Ed; 81 in GED & Adult Education 57 Graduated Study cohort – those re-enrolling July-October 2010 284 Re-enrolled = 65% stick rate

Rate of first-year completion /“stick rate” for study cohort students re-enrolling

Youth Education and Employment Success (YE2S) Centers: A Systems-Based approach to identify, implement, and support Positive Youth Development Rutgers T.E.E.M. Gateway “Building Productive Futures for the Youth of New Jersey” www.youthsuccesscenter.org

Focus on a Shared Youth Vision Starts in each city with agreement between Mayor, Superintendent re: importance of youth engagement Partners provide additional supports, enrichment Process: Personal outreach to dropouts Accessible location – easy initial intake Instructors & CBO staff on site Coordinated by Rutgers University TEEM Gateway – Urban Youth Development arm of Rutgers Cooperative Extension

New Jersey YE2S Centers – Development Timeline Newark – 2008 Downtown Newark Business District Co-Located with NPS Hybrid HS / Community Partners CISNJ / Boys and Girls Club / Hetrick-Martin Institute Trenton – 2010 Downtown Trenton Co-Located within the Daylight/Twilight High School & Mercer County Community College Camden – 2012 Two locations – Camden City Community /Recreation Centers

Eco Maps: Partner Mapping

RESULTS TO DATE / NEXT STEPS: Newark YE2S Center has engaged 5,000 young adults, re-enrolled 3,500 since January 2008 Enhanced services with AmeriCorps members, mature workers, mentors, school district social workers Next steps Short term – moving from social to mobile media; communicating youth success stories Longer term – expand research & assessment integration

NLC Institute for Youth, Education, and Families Re-Engagement Center Network Four cities on call today plus: Dayton, Ohio Denver, Colorado Indianapolis, Indiana Portland, Oregon Several more cities: Reengagement Centers in development Informational phone calls + yearly meeting Share information via Dropbox Next call: March 6, 2012; 2:30pm ET moore@nlc.org for more information