Focus on TUSD - August 2007

School Districts Launch Innovative Drop-out Prevention Project
A monetary incentive project intended to help low-income high school students stay in school and graduate has been launched this year in Tucson Unified School District and Amphitheater Public Schools, thanks to a local businessman whose nonprofit organization - Youth Education Security Inc. - will fund the First Job Project.

A pilot project, First Job is intended to support students in low income areas who are serious about finishing high school and may be experiencing financial difficulties causing them to think about dropping out. The program was presented to TUSD and Amphitheater several months ago by Lou Barsky, a retired lawyer with a background in investments and an interest in human rights. The program is being implemented at Rincon High School with 100 students and at Amphitheater High School with 75 students this fall.

"Under a conditional grant contract between the school and the student, we are providing $25 each week to each student in the program as an incentive for staying in school," said Barsky. The focus will be on those students who are likely to drop out of school due to issues of poverty, he said. Students will be required to have a bank account where $50 will be deposited into their accounts biweekly. There will be no requirements on how the students can spend the money, said Barsky.

"Repeatedly studies have shown that dropping out and poverty are inextricably linked. We have to do something different that clearly addresses poverty," Barsky said.

Participants in the 2007-2008 program were identified as living in a poverty designated area as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and/or qualifying for free/reduced lunch under federal and state regulations. Program participants are required to sign a contract stating that they will attend all assigned classes every day; attain a passing grade in all assigned classes each semester; and not receive any in-school suspensions, short- or long-term out-of-school suspensions, or expulsions. Students who fail to meet the terms of their contracts will see deductions in their weekly stipends.

TUSD officials are strong proponents of the program. TUSD Superintendent Roger F. Pfeuffer said, "The First Job Project is an excellent example of a forward looking community member, Mr. Lou Barsky, deciding to collaborate by investing in his community's future through addressing the economic and educational needs of students who are an important part of that future."

Amphitheater Superintendent Vicki Balentine is equally supportive of the project. "This is a wonderful private/public partnership to mitigate the impact of poverty on our students' ability to stay in school and focus on academics rather than basic needs. Mr. Barsky and the organization's board members are to be commended for their insight and positive action to support students at these two high schools," she said.

Officials with the University of Arizona Department of Educational Psychology will work with TUSD and Amphitheater staff to develop a process for the external evaluation of the project.

For more information, on Youth Educational Security and the First Job Project, call Gina Reyes at 907-8414.

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations