Improving educational outcomes for vulnerable youth in DC begins with something basic: keeping the kids in school and out of the juvenile justice system. And that means addressing the things that cause them to drop out in the first place: chronic truancy, suspension, and first-time arrest. Access Youth tackles all of this. At Ballou, Anacostia, and Eastern High Schools, two program managers per school build trusting relationships with students, enrolling them in ninth grade and continuing for four years. A truancy prevention program provides encouragement, motivation, and support for attending school, while a restorative justice program works on relationship building, goal setting, progress monitoring, and life skills development. Rooted in conflict resolution and mediation, not punishment, these programs will serve 700 students next year, decreasing behavior issues, boosting attendance, increasing school engagement, and improving school performance. Don’t we owe this to our kids?
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