Sep 6, 2008 7:07 pm US/Central
Districts Fighting To Get Students Back
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
More than two weeks after classes started, many North Texas teens still have not shown up for class. On Saturday, the largest districts went door-to-door to get "dropouts" back in the classroom.
Scores of school and city leaders in both Fort Worth and Dallas threw themselves at the project, identifying dropouts, and offering a second chance at academic redemption.
From North Dallas High School, to the Eastern Hills and O.D. Wyatt neighborhoods in Fort Worth, scores of volunteers fan out to win over young hearts.
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert says the concept is simple. "We want to try to encourage kids to get back in school."
Sometimes they meet with success, like with Erik Padron. "Now I realize there is nothing out there for more. Really, I can't settle down for just any normal job, and the only way I can succeed in life is returning back to school."
In Dallas it's called "Operation Comeback", in Fort Worth "Project Prevail". In either place, the message is the same, the schools want them back.
Keeping kids in school adds to the district bottom line. They receive money from the state based on enrollment. But it isn't just that, the stay in school initiative's underlying message is people will work with you to achieve a diploma.
New father Oswaldo Hernandez is a believer. "They will help you out, they'll work with your schedule. If you have a daughter, if you have a job, they'll help you out. It's easy to come back to school."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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