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At-Risk Students Get a Second Chance As Program Enters Colorado School District

Posted on: Monday, 4 June 2007, 15:00 CDT

FOUNTAIN, Colo., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fountain-Fort Carson School Board has unanimously approved a contract to engage Ombudsman Educational Services to offer a second chance for students who have been expelled, have severe attendance issues or would benefit from an alternative learning environment.

Ombudsman Educational Services collaborates with school districts to provide an off-campus, alternative education program that offers personalized, computer-assisted learning for middle and high school students facing a variety of issues including truancy, credit or academic skill deficiencies, social and family challenges or learning/behavioral disabilities.

The Ombudsman program is expected to serve approximately 60 at-risk Fountain-Fort Carson School District students in grades six through 12. The program will be located off campus to minimize distraction and facilitate individual attention. Students who attend the Ombudsman program remain students of the school district.

Dwight Jones, superintendent of the Fountain-Fort Carson School District, helped facilitate the partnership, which was approved May 29.

"Governor Ritter set a goal of cutting the statewide high school dropout rate and achievement gap in half within the next 10 years," Jones said. "Fountain-Fort Carson's partnership with Ombudsman Educational Services will help educate the unique population of at-risk students in the district. Our motto is 'whatever it takes,' and Ombudsman is a creative, effective and proven solution to keep students in school and help them earn their high school diplomas."

During his tenure as superintendent of the Fountain-Fort Carson School District, Jones has helped significantly narrow the achievement gap between white and minority students and consistently raised state achievement test scores.

Ombudsman reports an 85 percent success rate among its national student body, meaning students graduate, earn credits or return to their school closer to or on grade level. Since 1975, Ombudsman has served more than 100,000 at- risk and special needs students. The program currently serves 6,000 students annually at 74 locations in 13 states. The partnership with the Fountain-Fort Carson School District is Ombudsman's first in Colorado.

Ombudsman Educational Services is operated by Educational Services of America (ESA), the nation's leading provider of K-12 and post-secondary alternative and special education programs. ESA is based in Nashville, Tenn., and manages more than 120 schools and programs in numerous states throughout the country to serve children with emotional and developmental disabilities, including autism.

"We believe all students can advance given the right type of instruction, encouragement and environment, and we believe in the power of a high school diploma," Mark Claypool, president and chief executive officer of ESA, said. "The Fountain-Fort Carson School District has displayed a commitment to educate all of its students, and Ombudsman Educational Services is an effective program for students whose individual circumstances place them at high risk of dropping out. We look forward to working with the school district."

About Educational Services of America

Educational Services of America is the nation's leading provider of K-12 and post-secondary alternative and special education programs. Based in Nashville, Tenn., ESA owns and operates more than 120 schools and programs in numerous states throughout the country. ESA provides highly personalized academic and behavioral services for students through the following branded areas: College Living Experience, College Living Prep, ESA Exceptional Schools, Ombudsman Educational Services and Spectrum Center Schools. For more information, visit http://www.esa-education.com/.

About Ombudsman Educational Services

Ombudsman Educational Services collaborates with school districts to provide an off-campus, alternative education program that offers highly personalized, computer-assisted learning for middle and high school students facing a variety of issues including truancy, credit or academic skill deficiencies, social and family challenges or learning/behavioral disorders. These issues frequently prevent them from succeeding in a traditional school setting. Ombudsman Educational Services is a service division of Educational Services of America, the nation's leading private provider of special and alternative educational programs. Ombudsman Educational Services operates 74 sites in 13 states and serves more than 6,000 students annually from more than 100 school districts each year. Ombudsman Educational Services learning centers are typically located within the school district they serve, but away from the campuses to minimize social distractions and allow students to focus on their studies. For more information, visit http://www.ombudsman.com/ or http://www.esa-education.com/.

Educational Services of America

CONTACT: Nick Tazik of Lovell Communications Inc., +1-615-297-7766,nick@lovell.com, for ESA

Web site: http://www.esa-education.com/http://www.ombudsman.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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