Kerry L. Abel, Coordinator
Mary Mercer, Secretary

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Dropout Prevention, Specialized Interventions and Partnerships is to work in collaboration with schools, parents and the community to remove those barriers that prevent Richland One students from having a positive and successful educational experience.

Goals & Objectives

The Office of Dropout Prevention, Specialized Interventions and Partnerships is responsible for coordinating, and implementing all the district’s efforts relating to dropout prevention planning, specialized interventions and partnerships that support’s student academic growth and development.

The office will work in collaboration with schools, parents, and the community to:

	reduce the district’s dropout rate and ensure that each middle and high school has an array of supportive services that will provide students with alternatives to dropping out
	increase the district’s graduation rate through specialized interventions that address the acquisition of required credits
	work with community agencies and the military to develop and implement programs that provide student alternatives to dropping out of school
	work individually with school principals and their administrative staff to develop a school dropout prevention plan for each middle and high school
	work with elementary schools to provide information to parents on the early strategies they can utilize to ensure their child will remain in school until graduation
	establish a uniform way for middle and high schools to track and monitor students
	maintain the district’s existing business, corporate, and community partnerships as well as working to establish additional ones

Programs:

Richland One Evening High School

The Evening High School is designed to serve students interested in obtaining a high school diploma; but, due to life circumstances, are unable to attend school during the day.

One of the unique characteristics of this high school is the positive balance of bringing students with different life experiences together in a setting conducive to their being successful and productive citizens. This school, currently housed at the Heyward Career & Technology Center, has a flexible schedule that operates year-round, Monday thru Thursday from 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

The operational timeframe enables students to hold a job, meet family obligations and, upon meeting the requirements, graduate from high school. The students served in the evening high school will no longer be out of touch with the common theme in education to strive for excellence.

Evening School Goals & Objectives

	to provide students with a positive educational experience that will assist them in obtaining a high school diploma
	to reduce the school district’s overall truancy and drop out rate
	to increase the graduation rate
	to provide students with career counseling and the opportunity for them to be prepared for post secondary education, the workforce or the military after graduation; and
	to provide computer-assisted and specialized instruction

For additional information, please contact:

Office of Dropout Prevention, Specialized, Interventions, and Partnerships
1225 Oak Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29204
803-231-6749, Fax 803-231-6761

Kerry L. Abel, Coordinator
Mary Mercer, Secretary
Debra Edwards, Lead Teacher - Evening High School
Antonio Diaz, Attendance/Intervention Monitor - Evening High School