Baltimore Program Helps Dropouts Return To School

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Great Kids Come Back is a program that helps former dropouts return to school. 

Andrea Fujii explains another chance to sign up happens next week.

Nearly 2,000 former dropouts have gone back to school in the last three years, all because of the Great Kids Come Back campaign.

"We're seeing more of these students accumulate credits and graduate," said Jonathan Brice, Baltimore City Schools.

Program organizers credit the success to a change in school system culture and finding options for students.

In this school year, 460 students have been referred to alternative schools and programs.  Many of them are former dropouts.

"We took it unbelievably seriously, the act of going out to people's homes and letting kids know that they could come back to school," said City Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso.

Since the Great Kids Come Back program began, dropouts have decreased 56 percent for the 2009-2010 school year and graduation rates have increased 10 percent.

"What we're attempting to do now is identify the reasons why students have not been successful and then to match their needs with schools that would support them," Brice said.

They are seeking out those who have left and offering them a second chance at education.

The Great Kids Come Back program will offer resource fairs Jan. 14 and 15.  For more information, click here.