Educational company that works to keep at-risk students in
school may open at Mt. Madonna High School
Gilroy – A San Francisco-based business that specifically caters to alternative programs may soon become a staple here.
Representatives from AdvancePath Academics, a company that partners with school districts to provide programs for at-risk youth, staged a presentation at the Thursday board meeting per the request of Gilroy Unified School District officials.
If the program becomes a reality in Gilroy, Mt. Madonna High School would play host to a drop-out recovery center or AdvancePath Academy.
At the continuation school site AdvancePath would address the drop-out rate by working in partnership with the district and each student individually.
he program is designed for students who have either dropped out or aren’t fully attending one of the district’s alternative program, said GUSD Superintendent Edwin Diaz.
The academy would also serve fifth year seniors who may be at risk of dropping out because they haven’t passed the California High School Exit Exam.
During the presentation, the two representatives said there are a few key indicators that place students at risk of quitting school. If they enter their senior year behind, and the transition from middle school to high school are two indicators.
In addition, school districts can’t track the number of students that drop-out when moving from middle school to high school.
Students seeking help from AdvancePath Academy will have the opportunity to earn their diploma without sticking to the traditional high school schedule. The program will offer sessions in the mornings, afternoons, evenings, Saturdays and during the summer.
Students receive individual academic and career advice and help. AdvancePath provides outreach programs to community to attract students to the program.
GUSD loses between five to six students per week, which translates to a loss of 200 students per year, according to AdvancePath. Whether those students actually dropped out is unknown.
“Our drop-out numbers may not be that high but we have kids who transfers to other alternative programs and end up not continuing,” said Diaz.
Those students are difficult to track because they attend other programs, don’t finish and then end up becoming a part of the community without earning their diploma, said Diaz.
Also, many students disappear after the eighth grade because the district is not required to begin tracking students until they hit high school.
Diaz said he thinks the AdvancePath program would be a good fit for GUSD and he was happy to hear positive remarks from board members.
AdvancePath covers all the initial investments of items such as furniture and technology and district provides the facility.
The business takes a percentage of the average daily attendance funds that are generated.
“For us, it’s getting more kids back into the education system,” said Diaz.
The board will discuss possible approval of the program at Thursday’s meeting.
