Project HOPE - Turning Dropouts into Graduates
In 1996, Project HOPE opened its first alternative educational program to 28 students from the Putnam City School District. The students had either dropped out or were in danger of dropping out of high school.
Program Specifics
- Referred by home H.S. counselor
- Three hours of Career Transition or technical instruction
- Three hours of academic instruction
Although their class work is completed at Francis Tuttle, students must meet all required criteria at their
home school, since that is where credits are issued.
Phenomenal Success
Under the guidance of Special Projects Manager Carla High and Coordinator Kim Thomas, the program has achieved phenomenal success both in retention of students (between 82 and 92%) and in those completing high school graduation requirements. As of August 2002, HOPE enrollment has increased to 130 students from all six sending school districts.
An Award-Winning Program
Project Hope was given the prestigious American School Board Journal Magna Award in 1999 for their "win-win partnership of students, parents, educators, and school districts." Coordinator Kimberly Montrose Thomas was awarded the Putnam City Golden Apple Award for her work in dropout recovery and assistance in developing one of the premier alternative programs in Oklahoma.
Solar Car Project
Ms. Thomas is quick to point out that Project Hope students in 2001 competed for the third year in the Solar Car Project against some very prestigious as well as larger schools. Following a second place the year before, students placed first in the nation in the Solar Car competition in 2001, as well as 14th in the 2001 World Solar Car Rallye in Ogata-Mura, Japan. Whether that has been an incentive or not, enrollment in higher math classes has increased by an amazing 350%!
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