LAUSD Reaches Out To Bring Dropout Students Back To School

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Members of the Los Angeles Unified School District launched the fifth annual Student Recovery Day Friday morning.

Former dropouts Norya Benitz and Marlene Pedraza joined LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy and a few board members at the media event held at 8:30 a.m. at Hollywood High School at 1521 N. Highland Ave.

"Our whole community is coming together," LAUSD board member Steve Zimmer said. "We are not complete without you, we want to know why you left and we want to help you come back."

After the event, officials went throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods to find students who dropped out of the school district and encouraged them to come back.

"My message for those who have dropped out or have just stopped going to high school is to just go back to high school! There's so many people that would try to help you complete high school and get your diploma," Pedraza said. As a former dropout, she said she's excited she has to complete only two more classes in order to graduating.

"The notion that the students, when they are contacted, cannot believe that someone's job is to reach you and bring you back, it's a huge affect on students' lives," Deasy said.

Since the first Student Recovery Day in October 2009, 3,296 students have been "recovered" and brought back to school to graduate.