Drop-Out Prevention
Drop-Out Prevention, an initiative of the Academic Intervention Department of Sarasota County Schools, is designed to provide support to education professionals who serve at-risk populations and their families.
The Performance-Based Diploma (PBD) Program is a major element of the district's Drop-Out Prevention strategy. PBD has four major components:
- Academics
- Career-Technical
- Mentoring
Academics
Basic skills in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies through the utilization of computer instructional learning technology – PLATO software; and facilitated by four certified teachers.
Career-Technical
The goal of each student will be to achieve vocation certification in preparation for career and post secondary education.
Mentoring: Decisions to Win
The Decisions to Win program is a focused and intensive personal decision-making course targeting high-school-age at-risk youth. The program is managed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.
Cyesis Teen Parent Programs
The CYESIS Program began in response to this community’s concern for teen parents and their children. In 1978, a community coalition of concerned citizens, agency representatives, and Health Department personnel requested that the School Board of Sarasota County sponsor an educational program for pregnant teens and young parents. It was agreed that the program would operate in partnership with the community, with the goal of strengthening young families and enabling participants to become self-sustaining members of society.
Since that date, the CYESIS Program has become a nationally recognized model. Students remain in school, have babies of adequate birth weight, and graduate with plans for their future. The program was an integral part of the State of Florida’s decision that all teen parents have a right to an education with ancillary services in place until graduation.
AMI Kids
AMIkids is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping troubled youth develop into responsible and productive citizens. AMIkids’ mission is to protect the public safety and positively impact as many youth as possible through the efforts of a diverse and innovative staff. AMIkids works in partnership with youth agencies, local communities and families.
Triad Alternative School Program
The YMCA Triad Alternative Program is a cooperative community project developed to help teens improve their chances for future success. It is a behavior modification program using low student to staff ratios, self-contained classrooms, modified curricula, adventure-based learning, and a "whole-student" approach to teaching. The school's first priority is addressing student behavior. With the use of an integrated behavior modification system, criteria for student success are established. To meet this criteria for success, students are provided with instruction and counseling in a caring and supportive environment. When students meet Triad "Graduation" requirements, they begin the process of re-entry to school, vocational training, college or employment.