National Program Develops and Implements Best Practices That Address Youth At Risk
Anderson, S.C. (10/01/2018)—The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) recognizes Ms. Joan Arasteh, Dropout Prevention Intervention and Recovery Coordinator, as a completer of the National Dropout Prevention Specialist (NDPS) certification program. A part of Ms. Arasteh’s work resulted in a field project Dropout Prevention, Intervention and Recovery Coordination for Katy ISD Texas Education Agency Designated Best Practices for Dropout Recovery Resources that is available for others who work with at-risk youth to access and use to explore opportunities for similar practices.
Implemented in 2014, the National Dropout Prevention Specialist (NDPS) certification program verifies participant knowledge and expertise in at-risk youth issues and strategies for increasing graduation rates. The certification program is open to all professionals who work with or on behalf of students, including educators, counselors, school administrators, at-risk youth workers, and board of education members.
“We are honored to recognize Ms. Arasteh as a completer of the National Dropout Prevention Specialist certification program,” said Dr. Sandy Addis, Director of the National Dropout Prevention Center. “The research and work involved in completing the certification program adds significantly to the growing body of best practices that address dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery. The program itself, now with over 500 enrolled, is growing quickly based on the positive responses from participants, applicability to dropout prevention strategies, and a connection to the most effective, research-based strategies for decreasing the nation’s dropout rates.”
All NDPS certification program participants attend professional development workshops or enroll in online classes. Workshops and classes required for certification are based on NDPC’s 15 Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention framework, which is comprised of fifteen recommendations in the categories of School and Community Perspective; Early Interventions; Basic Core Strategies; and Making the Most of Instruction. Participants also submit a field project report detailing an effective dropout prevention initiative they designed or in which they are involved. All field projects are available at www.dropoutprevention.org.
For details about the National Dropout Prevention Specialist certification program, its benefits, and its requirements or to join the growing army of educators and practitioners identified as working with and/or on behalf of youth at risk, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center at www.dropoutprevention.org.
About the National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC)
The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) was begun in 1986 and serves as a resource on issues related to dropout prevention and offers strategies designed to increase the graduation rate in America’s schools. Over the years, NDPC has become a well-established national resource for sharing solutions for student success. It does so through active research projects, publications, professional learning and development activities, and third-party evaluations program reviews. The NDPC serves as a research center and resource network for practitioners, researchers and policymakers to reshape school and community environments to meet the needs of youth in at-risk situations so these students receive the quality education and services necessary to succeed academically and graduate from school. In 2018, NDPC merged with Successful Practices Network, another non-profit organization that has historically guided and supported much of the nation’s school improvement efforts. For more information, visit www.dropoutprevention.org.