‘Rethinking education.’ This new program makes it easier for Manatee students to graduate

A Manatee County high school has launched a pilot program that provides flexibility for students facing different challenges, allowing them the opportunity to graduate on time.

The extended-day program is for students who want to raise their GPA, make up classes or graduate early. It’s also for students who can’t get to school on time because they work or take care of younger siblings in the morning during the school’s normal start time.

School officials wanted to give students the option to start school later after noticing a trend of students arriving late.

Scott Cooper, the principal at Bayshore High School, said he hopes the program will help students catch up in time to graduate with their peers. For example, if a student can’t get to school on time because they have to drop off a younger sibling at the bus stop, they can start school in third period and stay until ninth period.

“If we’re able to keep our kids on campus and work with them, there’s a much better chance of them graduating,” Cooper said. “We don’t want to get to a point where they get so discouraged or unmotivated that they drop out or don’t come back at all.”

New program aims to boost graduation rates

School officials say the pilot program could help more students make it across the graduation stage. Their goal is to boost the Bayshore’s graduation rate from 81% to 90%.

The school earned a D grade from the state last school year and received over $988,000 from the state to fund school improvement initiatives, according to Latrina Singleton, the school district’s grant director. The district funded the pilot program with $220,000 of those funds, Singleton said.

The school also hired an academic coach, curriculum specialist and assistant principal to oversee the school’s graduation rate and offered professional development training for teachers and other school staff members.

The program, which began in October, adds two extra class periods to the school day and allows school leaders to tailor a student’s schedule based on their needs.

Mary Zilko, a guidance counselor who works with students in the program, said it helps students cope with the pressure to graduate on time.

“People are catching up and feeling like, ‘OK, I can enjoy my senior year now. I don’t have to hold my breath and hope that this teacher will pass me,’” Zilko said.

So far, 51 students have participated in the program. Of those, 29 have made up at least half a credit hour, 24 have made up multiple classes and 12 have caught up on credits, according to school officials.

Genesis Catoni, a senior at Bayshore High, said she enrolled in the program to make up biology, English and other classes she failed earlier in high school. Now she’s aiming to graduate on time this spring.

“I want to be there with my friends because I want to share the moment with them,” Catoni said.

In an interview with the Bradenton Herald, Catoni, who uses a wheelchair, said graduating on time has become an important personal goal.

“Because I have my disability, ... I just want to be able to prove to people ... that I can do things on my own and be successful,” said Catoni.

Ibrar Faqirkhil, another senior, said he enrolled in the program to make up algebra, biology and other classes he failed earlier in high school. He plans to graduate on time this spring.

“It feels really good that I’m finishing my classes and graduating with the other seniors,” Faqirkhil said.

‘Rethinking education’

Amanda Price, a math teacher who works with students in the program, said it is important to help more students earn a diploma in four years.

“We don’t want our kids to be lost,” Price said. “We don’t want them to drop out. We want them to earn their diploma.”

At a School Board meeting in January, School Board Chairman Chad Choate III said more students should have the option to start school later.

“We have to start rethinking education,” Choate said. “And so kudos to the staff to be able to say, ‘Hey, look, this is something we need.’”

Will program expand to other schools?

Sharon Scarbrough, the district’s executive director of secondary schools, said district leaders will review the results of Bayshore’s pilot program to determine if it will expand to other schools in Manatee County.