Below are links to resources and contacts for students, families, educators, and policy makers.
Resources for Students and FamiliesResources for Educators and Policy-Makers
Students in New York City Public Schools who are behind in credits or have dropped out of high school have a range of schools and programmatic options. These schools and programs include Young Adult Borough Centers (YABCs), Transfer Schools, and GED programs (including GED programs with Learning to Work). To find out more about these options, please click on any of the links below.
Resources for Students and FamiliesMaterials: An overview of Learning to Work schools and programs for students who are behind in credit or have dropped out of school. A video of three students from Learning to Work schools and programs. The College Planning Handbook: For Multiple Pathways Students outlines the entire college application process for students and their families, including facts about considering college as a viable option, selecting the right institution, securing financial aid, and tips for succeeding in college. Contacts: Referral Centers for High School Alternatives are one-stop guidance centers, located in every borough, where high school aged students can be connected to academic options and wrap-around supports. If you experience difficulty in contacting a Referral Center, please contact the District 79 Office of Student Support Services at 917-521-3639. Students and families can also contact any of the schools and programs on the Transfer School, Young Adult Borough Center, or GED and Learning to Work GED page directly. Resources for Educators and Policy Makers Materials: The Young Adult Borough Center Model: Reconnecting to School and the Future outlines the Young Adult Borough Center (YABC) model. The Young Adult Borough Center Practitioner Handbook: Strengthening Partnerships and Supporting Student Learning is a resource for new staff and new leaders joining existing YABC programs and for educators outside the NYC education system interested in the day-to-day procedures at a YABC. Access GED Program Model: Learning for Life Beyond the Test outlines the full-day Access GED Program structure. The GED Educational Resource Manual helps teachers prepare students for the GED Test and their transitions to post-secondary education and careers. A Professional Learning Path to Rigorous and Relevant Instruction: Key Lessons from the Transfer School Institute outlines the essential elements of teaching and learning and focuses on adapting and integrating these elements within a Transfer School context. The Learning to Work Initiative Year 4: Mid-Year Report provides additional information on LTW.
Contacts: The Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation (OMPG) was established in September 2005 with the goal of significantly increasing the graduation rates and expanding connections to college and career opportunities for over-age and under-credited high school students. This office works to support the development of new and enhanced schools and programs that are designed specifically for older students who may be truant, are thinking about dropping out, or are looking for another educational option. Young Adult Borough Centers, Transfer Schools, and full-day and part-time GED programs are models that the Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation has helped to make available to students in New York City. The Learning to Work Initiative adds wrap-around support services at schools and programs in the Multiple Pathways portfolio. ¡ Multiple Pathways Research and Development: Summary Findings and Strategic Solutions for Over-age and Under-credited Youth provides additional information on research by the Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation. District 79 oversees the Department of Education’s Alternative Schools and Programs across NYC’s five boroughs. Recognizing that many students need additional supports to succeed in their current school or require alternative pathways to attain a high school or GED diploma, District 79 empowers students through rigorous instruction and quality support services.