Sept. 8, 2012 — Klein ISD staff members, administrators, Superintendent Dr. Jim Cain, counselors and community volunteers joined together for the annual Reach Out to Dropouts Walk sponsored by the City of Houston. For the fourth year in the district, 64 volunteers went door-to-door to nearly 77 homes to provide high school dropouts a second chance at earning a diploma. As a result of the walk, 11 students committed to returning to school or to participate in the Klein ISD 2nd Chance program.

“This year was extremely successful! At Klein Forest, we had eight teams who walked, with each making at least one contact and some had multiples,” said Shelli Moore, graduation advisor at Klein Forest. “Each year our volunteers are rewarded with how surprised students and parents are to see them, and that as a community we want them to know that we care, want them to be successful, and that they really do matter.”

Students targeted were dropouts from the 2011-12 school year and 2012 seniors who did not graduate because they lack credits and/or haven’t passed one or more of the TAKS exit-level exams. Students and parents were given information regarding options available through Klein ISD, as well as encouragement and resources needed to complete high school. Door hangers and brochures with campus contact information were also left for those families who were unavailable.

“Each year, we’ve had fewer students to visit because everyone in the district continuously works together to identify students at-risk for not graduating, and begin intervening earlier,” said Angie Mentz, high school completion specialist. “Likewise, the 2nd Chance program has had a huge positive impact on the district’s graduation rate.”

The 2nd Chance program is one of the district’s initiatives for helping students graduate. It is offered to those who may not have graduated with their class because they need additional credits, or have not passed the exit-level TAKS. The program is self-paced and offers a flexible schedule that includes evening hours, which provides students an option for getting a high school diploma year-round. Since the program began in October 2009, 225 total students have earned their diplomas, which included 102 graduates during 2011-12 alone.

The Klein ISD joins 17 other school districts in the Greater Houston area for the seventh annual event, which has spanned to include 24 Texas cities. During the first six years, the walk has brought back more than 8,800 students thanks to the help of nearly 15,600 volunteers. To learn more about the event visit www.expectationgraduation.org. For information about the Klein ISD event or 2nd Chance, visit www.kleinisd.net/2ndchance or email amentz1@kleinisd.net.