Learning and Teaching

An Award-Winning Program Keeping Kids in School




The Shriver Center's Choice Middle Schools program, which reaches out to young people at risk of dropping out of school, was honored with the Crystal Star Award of Excellence in Dropout Recovery, Intervention, and Prevention this year. The award, given by the National Dropout Prevention Network, recognizes the "clear evidence of strong leadership" of the Choice Middle Schools program, which has been providing an innovative approach to dropout prevention since it was started in 1993. Modeled after the Shriver Center's successful high-school program, the $2-million middle school project serves nearly 450 students at 11 middle schools in Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Cecil, and Montgomery counties during the academic year. Caseworkers provide round-the-clock intensive support to the students.

"We work very hard to get the students to school, keep them in school, and support the teacher's task of engaging the students in their education," explains Leigh Higgins, Choice programs director. "We are thrilled to be recognized on a national level for a program that we have known for years is having a very positive impact."

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