Dropout Prevention

Young people drop out of high school for a variety of reasons, but the three main reasons are economic hardship, poor academic performance and having other needs that are not being met in the traditional classroom setting. I would like to see Allen ISD use the money earmarked for drop out prevention to establish alternative educational settings. A few alternatives might include offering classes in the evenings or on weekends, allowing students to complete a course at their own pace using the internet and empowering teachers to use alternative instructional methods. Alternative instructional methods might include self paced courses with teachers available to support the varied learning styles of students, lesson that are Pod casts allowing students to access instruction outside the walls of a classroom, or even internet courses that allow students to earn an International Diploma in more that one language. Last of all, but critical to student success, money should be spent on counselors that are trained to really hear what a student is saying and then provide these reluctant students with options and the support needed to finish their high school career.