So let's get this straight, we ask people to come back and 180 students come back. And yet principals are complaining about doing the ask. Near as I can figure we are talking about schools getting about 1 million bucks just by asking. That's figuring that for fair student funding schools are getting 5400 per kid (and that doesn't include the rest of the per pupil that the state gives the system so 200 E N Ave. people can keep their jobs). So, forget that we might have a chance to save 180 kids, forget that even if we only graduate 50% of them that's 90 more kids with diplomas, people who know and care about them, some more life experience before they hit the streets, the possibility of going to college, the possibility of getting better jobs, paying taxes and oh yes, staying out of prison where we the tax payers would pony up over $30,000 to house and feed them, forget all of that, as a school, if I get 10 kids to come back in for the year I end up with $54,000 which is enough to hire a paraprofessional JUST FOR THOSE KIDS plus have some cash left over for other stuff, like, books, or a phone line, or computers. And of course I wouldn't hire a paraprofessional for JUST THOSE 10 KIDS, I would hire them to serve in lots of ways, say, like attendance monitors to make sure that every kid who misses time is called or visited or has some contact which, and I am sure you can see where this is going, might keep others from dropping out. All for 10 phone calls in a month, and 10 home visits in another month. Sounds like time end energy well spent. And that;s after only 2 weeks of doing this. Think what we might accomplish in a month. Or two. Or three...

For those who still think that this is another one of AAA's half baked, no return, only political moves, shame on you. I dare you to look any one of those 180 kids in the eye and tell them that it wasn't worth someone, anyone, asking. And yes, I DO know how hard principals and all school based staff work.

To those 180, and the next 180 and every 180 that we get back in the schools, I say have a great year.

You can't argue with results, period. Sometimes a little extra effort goes a long way. Children need guidance, by actively pursuing students who have slipped through the cracks we contribute toward saving a generation of young folk.

I see you Alonso haters. Hi haters.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LFBNbDzBs

It's sortof heartbreaking that all we had to do was ask.
They just needed to know somebody cared enough to keep them in school.

I hear tell that while some believed this was just a stunt (although to those 180 kids, and families, I doubt it seems that way) there are now more fairs planned around the city.

Could this be the real deal?

Oh yes.

Corey, hilarious.

Dropout prevention - Step 1, check (for those 180 at least). Now it's time to focus on the most important part that oh so frequently gets overlooked in the craziness - the persistent, relentless follow-up. Well done, schools, there was never a doubt. Now make that money work.

No additional resources to those schools who worked hard to get the students back. Shame, take on some of the most challenging and do it with the same. Seems it's another great idea with no support.