Operation Don’t Quit is a week-long series of events highlighting the importance of graduating that would be broadcasted school-wide. Students hear testimonies from both high school dropouts and employers about the importance of a high school diploma. They receive promotional items such as pens, wristbands and candy with “Don’t Quit” slogans, and at the end of the week, select students participate in a skit highlighting the major themes of the campaign. To keep the initiative continuing after the week ends, students not only pledge to stay in school, but a peer mentoring group is also created to follow up with students who were considering dropping out and provide them with resources to keep them on track to graduate.

A.I.M. encourages students to stay in school through actions that Achieve, Inspire and Motivate. Students work to achieve their goals through multicultural peer mentoring and leadership programs that transcend race, gender and socio-economic background, providing new perspectives and resources they may not have otherwise had. Students are inspired by a massive peer expression art wall, and are motivated by incentives provided when they attend the peer-to-peer mentoring programs after school.

Step Up is an online tutorial program for eighth-grade students who are at-risk. These middle-schoolers use technology to partner with college students who encourage and help provide the resources needed to ensure that these younger students graduate. Face-to-face mentoring is also be provided monthly to ensure healthy relationships were fostered. To incentivize college students to participate, they would receive academic credit for their mentorship.

Studio Lounge alleviates the pressure surrounding end-of-course testing for students who need extra help to pass those standards. This program encourages at-risk students to enroll in a “study hall” class with several peer tutors available at all time. Both those needing academic help as well as high-achieving students would receive credit for participating, removing the stigma of a “remedial” course. The room would also provide cutting-edge technology, providing a relaxed, “cool” atmosphere that makes students want to participate in the program.

Kindles for Second Graders uses cutting-edge technology to increase young students’ interest in reading. Students will read printed books to earn the right to read from the Kindle tablet on alternating nights. Kindles offer more variety in terms of eBooks, and the cutting-edge technology will encourage young students and get them excited about developing their reading skills.

IGNITE is a peer-mentoring program for incoming freshman students. Upper-class students are paired with three ninth graders, who meet once a month in a structured environment as well as in morning meetings or during lunch to provide continual support. Occasional field trips will take place, and the group will use technology and social media to develop a freshman documentary film project. The IGNITE program will end with a celebratory retreat at the end of the school year, a rite of passage that will shift the freshmen toward their emerging roles as mentors and school leaders.

The Open Hardware Makerspace seeks to provide students with low- to no cost technologies they can develop ideas that can be turned into real projects. A centralized tool-sharing library will provide students and schools with equipment they can check out instead of purchase, and activities and lessons that encourage real-world application will be available to the public online. Student teams will regularly facilitate workshops that emphasize real-world skills and training, and a central venue will be provided to share these student projects and inspire others to do similar work. This hands-on approach not only encourages students to get involved in meaningful work, but this kind of learning also helps them retain more information.

Students and Teachers Employing New Criteria in Learning (S.T.E.N.C.I.L.) is a software program that helps teachers track student progression versus the warning signs of dropping out of high school. This software links all student courses, attendance, and empirical information (i.e. extracurricular participation, attitude, etc.), compares it to preset warning signs and administers an alert if a student is at risk. Based on these alerts, school systems can then allocate the necessary resources to schools that have the most at-risk youth to help prevent them from dropping out.

LinkedUp, a mentoring program, pairs high-acheiving ninth graders with at-risk fifth grade students. These students maintain this mentor-mentee relationship for eight years — through the end of college for the ninth grade student, and through high school graduation for the fifth grade student. This mentor provides support in the transitions from elementary to middle school as well as from middle to high school. This strong bond through these transitions — times where high school dropout rates increase — will help discourage the younger student from leaving school before s/he gets a high school diploma.

The Digital Storytelling project is two-fold, and involves elementary, middle and college-aged students. First, college students will mentor middle school students who will read with and act as role models for elementary students. Then, with the help of their college mentors, these same middle school students will use iPads, flip cameras, and other digital equipment to create their own stories about surrounding communities. Integrating this technology into academic lessons will enhance reading and writing skills in an exciting way for these at-risk youth.