Dropout Prevention / Student Intervention

Through a relationship-focused effort, the WCPS Dropout Prevention/Graduation Coaching initiative reaches out to impact the achievement of over 1,100 students throughout the county each year.

Dropout Prevention/Graduation Coaching Promotes:

• Consistently high graduation rate
• Consistently low dropout rate
• Increased student attendance
• Increased student engagement
• Students developing a vision for their future
• Successful student transitions: Link Crew/WEB and Freshman Summer Transition Program
• Continuous recovery of students who have previously dropped out

Student Intervention Specialists

Each WCPS secondary school is staffed with a Student Intervention Specialist (SIS). The SIS serves as a graduation coach whose sole purpose is to support students who face obstacles to school success and may be at-risk of dropping out.

To help students build confidence and success, Student Intervention Specialists:

• Build relationships with students and families
• Mentor and advocate
• Promote student self-advocacy and engagement in school
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators and other school staff
• Make referral to outside resources to help strengthen students and families
• Guide students in developing a vision for their future, by helping students to:
  • Cultivate community contacts
  • Participate in job shadowing, internships and summer employment
  • Set post-graduation goals which include advanced training, employment and further education

Who is eligible to receive the support of a Student Intervention Specialist?

Student Intervention Specialists are a critical member of the school’s Student Support Team where students struggling with school and most at-risk of dropping out are identified using data and referrals. Circumstances which may impact student success include the following issues:

• Attendance
• Family experiencing critical hardship (such as death in the family, change in family dynamic, poverty)
• Multiple course failures in middle and high school
• Family mobility (student enrolled in multiple schools over a period of time)
• Family member dropped out