Community Resource Trust Is partnering with the the School Innovation Collaboration Project. The School Innovation Collaboration Project involves the community and the Salem-Keizer School District and serves high-need and highly diverse schools in the Salem Keizer School District. This
program supports increasing graduation rates in these schools, which are the most diverse in the
district, and the state, and most students often face obstacles to graduation. Reasons for not
graduating on time, or at all include:
- Unmotivated students
- Students unable to complete the work
- Excessive absences
- Credit deficiency
- Failing current classes
- Students who have just given up
- No parent support
The School Innovation Collaboration Program involves community partners who provide technical
support and financial support to address this problem. The goal is to address these barriers to
graduation early on, especially when they are predictable. A key strategy is for the school staff to
get to know their students and families, and to understand what may be keeping from graduating on
time. Many of the students at these schools are typically the first generation in their family to
graduate from high school, and research has shown that when one finishes high school, the
likelihood of siblings completing high schools grows exponentially. This is true equity work and an
effective method of leveling the playing field and paving a bright future for all students. We know
some need more support, and even customized support to succeed, and this is exactly what the
school innovation partnership is about. It calls on adults to see kids differently and to value their
role in their success and future.
As a result of this work, the schools saw graduation rates increase by 10 percentage points in the
first year. They have maintained a high graduation rate since then, helping many more students –
particularly underserved historically and/or first generation – walk across the finish line every year.