Good Shepherd Services has developed an innovative model in New York City for bringing chronically truant students back to school, making it a leading player in “transfer schools”. The model has proven to be so successful that it is now being replicated in New York City as well as in other states across the country.

The model–designed to take dropouts to diplomas–involves youth development interventions, small classes, and a hands-on, personalized approach to learning. It requires an equal partnership between a social service provider (such as Good Shepherd) – which works to address out-of-class issues affecting a student’s performance–and the Department of Education whose teachers provide the classroom instruction.

The model was first introduced in 2002 at South Brooklyn Community High School in Red Hook–a public school that was built by Good Shepherd for this purpose. The school has achieved a 68% graduation rate among former dropouts.

The model was replicated when Good Shepherd opened its second “transfer school” last year: West Brooklyn Community High School in Sunset Park. Good Shepherd’s third transfer school opened in September 2007, when Bronx Community High School began classes in Morrisania.

Good Shepherd is also working with other community-based organizations to replicate this model, with additional support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. North Queens Community High School – the first transfer school in Queens, which is operated by SCO Family of Services – opened this fall. Over the next two years, Good Shepherd will help two other community-based organizations open schools based on the model.

Originally published December 2007.