The current 2016-17 school year has been the pilot year for the new Services Agreement between the D2 Center and Omaha Public Schools (OPS). The agreement creates a partnership with the school district where the D2 Center now assists OPS with outreach to students who have already withdrawn from school or who are showing signs of disengagement and potentially dropping out of school. The goal is to both reduce the number of dropouts as well as to encourage students who left the district but are eligible to enroll to reenroll back into school.
For students who choose to participate in the program, the D2 Center provides supports for students who face barriers to stay or return to school and connects students to services in the community. The D2 Center has been working closely with the Office of Multiple Pathways, Student Information Services, and the Placement Office to develop strategies and procedures to implement the Agreement. So far this school year, the D2 Center has reached out to over 100 students who were withdrawn and others who were still enrolled but disengaging. Many of the students have stayed in school or decided to return. Results of the pilot year of the Agreement will be shared this summer.