Model Program

Ombudsman is an alternative education program for at-risk students. Ombudsman gives middle and high students who are at risk of not graduating an accredited alternate route to earn a high school diploma. Ombudsman partners with public school districts to educate students in grades six through 12 who have not been successful in a traditional school setting by offering: personalized instruction; a small classroom setting; a low student-to-instructor ratio; computer-assisted instruction; Increased interaction with instructors; and a flexible schedule that accommodates family and work responsibilities.

Program Descriptors Include:
Academic Improvement, Alternative Education, Community Collaboration, Credit Recovery, Study Skills, Life Skills Training

Strategies for Locating Students:
Unspecified

Starting Date: 1975
Students Served Per Year: 500+
Reenrolled Students with Disabilities: N/A
Last Verified: 2009

Program addresses the following:

Individual factors

• High-risk peer group
• High-risk social behavior
• Low achievement
• Retention/overage for grade
• Poor attendance
• Low educational expectations
• Lack of effort
• Low commitment to school

Program promotes the following:

Relationships

• Opportunities and rewards for pro-social involvement
• Involvement with positive peer activities
• Perception of support from adults and peers

According to standardized test results, Ombudsman students achieve more than one year's academic growth during one year's time. One hundred percent of Ombudsman students are at risk - and 85 percent of them graduate, earn credits or return to their district school closer to or at grade level.

How evaluation data was collected:
Outside experimental studies
Data collected and analyzed at state or organizational level

Additional Evaluation Information:
http://www.ombudsman.com/measurable_results.aspx