60,000 kids at risk
around 40% do not graduate
$2 million cost per dropout"
And a local group, Colorado UpLift, is doing something about it. By addressing seven character qualities and six life skills in 28 Denver Public Schools, the organization is impacting kids' lives in school, after school, through adventure, and continuously throughout the post secondary setting.
Local master educator Gabe Trujillo spoke at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in January. He is currently UpLift's Vice President of Program Services, and in regard to his organization's curriculum, he has this to say:
"The Colorado UpLift model is so powerful that I used it to elevate an entire school. As the principal at Manny Martinez Middle School, I was so impressed by the impact UpLift was having with the kids involved, that I implemented a school-wide program. Using the UpLift model and core curriculum as the foundation, I was able to improve the school's climate and culture. This program significantly improved our scores as one [of] the lowest performing schools within Denver Public Schools. In fact, the program was so successful that it resulted in substantial increases in student achievement, improved student daily attendance rates and a decrease in negative student behavior. Results achieved are verifiable as part of the Denver Public Schools and State of Colorado School Performance Framework and a testament to the power of UpLift."
UpLift uses a "pipeline of influence" model, and its staff members consistently provide students with instruction from second grade through the college years, encouraging students to develop into contemporary societal leaders. By focusing on long-term relationships, UpLift has served around 30,000 urban youth since its 1982 inception.
You can learn more about Colorado UpLift here, and you can get involved here.
Posted by Parker Fulton
All quotations and information from http://www.coloradouplift.org.