Reach Out To Dropouts

Saturday, September 22 was the fourth annual Reach Out to Dropouts Event, where teams of community volunteers and Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) staff visit the homes of high school youth who have not returned to school for the 2012-13 school year.

United Way of Central Iowa, DMPS and corporate sponsor Aviva USA saught 200 Community Volunteers to join teams of “Door-to Door Walkers” from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Teams will consist of a team leader from the school and 2-3 community volunteers. Each team will be assigned to 8-12 home visits. During the home visits you will provide resource information to assist students with any obstacles they may encounter in their return to school and verification of school information.

Over the past three years the Reach Out to Dropouts event has resulted in volunteers visiting 1,261 homes, 53 students re-enrolling in school, and 141 students requesting additional information from the school regarding re-engagement.

Helping even one youth return to school would be worth the effort. Reaching this number of students is a great success. Together, we help our community reach an important goal: By 2020, to cut by half the number of high school students who do not graduate on time.

Check back in late spring for Fall 2013 volunteer registration.