TUCSON, Ariz. — TUCSON, Ariz. -- School is back in full swing, but not all students are back in the classroom. That's why the Tucson Unified School District is stepping up to make sure everyone is getting an education, with a simple knock on the door on Friday.
Since 2014, coordinators of the Drop-out Prevention Department say they've knocked on doors and encouraged 1,277 students to come back to school. It's all part of the "Steps to Success" program, where TUSD partners with the Mayor's Office and 75 community volunteers. Out of those that have received knocks on their door over the past 5 years, nearly half of them re-enrolled in school and 103 have walked the stage at graduation.
Friday morning, volunteers plan to knock on more than 100 doors to get kids back in the classroom.
Drop-out Prevention Coordinator Debby Ferryman said the TUSD staff realizes every kid has a reason to leave, so they want to send this message with every door knock: "I don't care who you are. I don't care what's happening to you right now, we are here to help you. We will do anything and everything we can," Ferryman said.
Their biggest goal throughout this whole process is to get every single kid to cross the stage at graduation. Those with the program say they understand this isn't an easy task, but no matter the answer they receive at the door knock, they will continue to come back to those same doors to prove they truly do want to help every child.
"Each child's story for leaving school is different and we're never going to know that until we get to the home, till we talk with the student and try to build a bridge, and open that door and see where we need to go," Ferryman said.
They will be holding this event every year now, instead of every other year. The plan is to have the individual middle and high schools hold their own event every quarter.
