L.A. Is Trying Out Some New Ideas

Around the country, some programs have shown promise in addressing the dropout problem. Here are a few that are being tried in Los Angeles:

First Things First

The idea: Building strong relationships between schools and students' families is the cornerstone of this 10-year-old effort to improve student achievement at underperforming schools.

Who uses it: Kansas City, Kan., was the first district to embrace the program; today, 13 districts nationwide use it. In the coming school year, Fremont High in South L.A. and Washington Preparatory in Athens will begin using it.

Main features: Students select themed "small learning communities" and remain with the same teachers and classmates throughout high school. Groups typically are no larger than 325 students. Each school staff member is a designated "family advocate" for up to 20 students. Students keep the same advocate throughout high school, and advocates meet with families at least once a month.

The evidence: Two outside assessments of First Things First in Kansas City found substantial improvements in such areas as attendance, reading and math. High school graduation rates, averaging 48% before the program was fully implemented, reached 81% in 2005.

Caveats: Kansas City officials are convinced their success is attributable in large part to a strong districtwide commitment to First Things First. District officials caution that it takes several years to see marked improvement. Also, First Things First adds staff and training costs, at least initially. Kansas City received grants, and L.A. Unified will receive almost $2.7 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for it.

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Knowledge Is Power Program, or KIPP

The Idea: Founded in 1994 by two alumni of Teach for America, a national corps of recent college graduates who pledge to teach for two years in public schools, KIPP focuses on opening fifth- through eighth-grade schools in low-income neighborhoods. The schools aim to bring students' skills to grade level -- and above -- and get them on track to attend college.

Who uses it: There are 47 KIPP schools in 15 states and Washington, D.C., including two charters in Los Angeles: KIPP Academy of Opportunity in South Los Angeles and KIPP LA Prep in Lincoln Heights.