Guest Editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal

Focus Efforts To Help School Dropouts'
Wisconsin State Journal
Saturday, June 3, 2006


Thanks for the Wisconsin State Journal editorial last Sunday, "We can't leave dropouts behind." The editorial highlighted an issue that often takes a back seat to other educational issues.

For the past three decades, Omega School Inc., which prepares students to pass the general education development credential or high school equivalency diploma, has been quietly helping adults achieve their educational goals. Unfortunately, the term "high school dropout" stigmatizes "individuals failing school," rather than "schools failing to provide a way for individuals to succeed."

Last Sunday's State Journal editorial called for "a more coordinated effort, backed by more money and more leadership . . ." Omega School has long worked cooperatively with adult basic education programs such as the Madison Area Literacy Council, Operation Fresh Start, Head Start GED program, Even Start and Madison Area Technical College's Alternative Learning Division to increase access to services and help students who transfer between programs.

But we are a collection of small, nonprofit organizations without access to the resources to make system-wide changes to address the dropout issue.

I believe that an effort similar to "Schools of Hope," focusing on the reasons why students leave school before graduation, could reduce the number of high school dropouts. A concerted campaign could maximize the efforts of the groups mentioned above and draw others to the cause as well. It is important not to let this issue get lost as summer starts, and I encourage the Wisconsin State Journal to initiate steps to this end.

For its part, Omega School has been conducting research on the needs of those who did not finish high school. In response, we have relocated to a new building on Badger Road next to the Metro Transit's South Transfer Point to make our services more accessible. We are open in the morning, afternoon and evening to fit the schedules of those working first, second or third shifts. In addition to the one-to-one instruction we have long practiced, we will also offer small group instruction and increase our use of technology. We are positioning ourselves to prepare for the future.

As the editorial noted, this high school graduation season is indeed a time when high school dropouts can see the importance of earning a high school diploma and are willing to put in the time and effort to finally finish this important credential.

Omega School has helped more than 5,000 young adults earn GED/HSED credentials during the past three decades. We will celebrate the success of our most recent group on Saturday, June 10, at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, followed by an open house at 835 W. Badger Road from 3 to 5 p.m. We anticipate more than 50 GED /HSED graduates and their families to be in attendance.

It would be fitting if we could announce at this ceremony that our community is coming together to make major changes to address the problem of high school dropouts. I invite the Wisconsin State Journal and its readers to join us in this cause.

Oscar Mireles
Executive Director
Omega School