
In 2008, Talent Development Secondary launched the Diplomas Now program that combines TDS’ whole-school reform model and expert curricular instruction, with City Year Americorp staff and Communities In Schools support services. The collaborative effort partnered with high-need secondary schools across the nation for one of the largest and longest randomized control trials ever conducted of U.S. secondary whole-school improvement model. The results from the study showed that the Diplomas Now model had the ability to to change the trajectory of students in the highest-need schools.
This latest report, Findings from the First Decade and What’s Next, describes the statistically significant impact Diplomas Now had on reducing chronic absenteeism in the middle grades, increasing the percentage of sixth and ninth graders exhibiting no early warning indicators, and building stronger school relationships, climate and culture.
The report also highlights how organizations can collaborate to bring additional capacity to schools and have a greater impact, the crucial role members play in delivering evidence-based supports in high-need schools, and the benefits of a public-private partnership like Diplomas Now.