Ombudsman has been a real savior for us.
In the mid 1990s, our school district was struggling with a growing dropout problem. When our students dropped out, their only option was an adult education program run by another school district, which was part of the problem. The GED program did not work well. We couldn’t keep students, we didn’t have direct contact with them and they weren’t accessible to us.
Enter Ombudsman.
During the next decade, our district reduced its dropout rate from over 7 percent to fewer than 3 percent. Students who complete their studies through Ombudsman go on to college, join the military or head into the work force better equipped for the challenges ahead.
Ombudsman has also saved the school district money. Ombudsman costs approximately half the price of educating a student at the regular classroom rate – and the results are incredible.
We are now hardcore Ombudsman supporters. Parents are very grateful for the opportunity for their children to finish school. Many of them have told me that they never expected to see their son or daughter graduate.
Today, our district has tripled the number of students it sends to Ombudsman, even allocating several spaces for middle school students. The success of Ombudsman in GWSD has led to establishment of two additional programs in New Hampshire.
We love the staff. They have been very helpful and cooperative for us. Ombudsman has been a real savior for us.
