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Come Back Kids helps 126 dropouts receive diplomas
Last month, 126 former dropouts donned caps and gowns and received their high school diplomas June 16 at Riverside City College thanks to the Come Back Kids (CBK) program designed by the office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools in an ongoing effort to lower the dropout rate in Riverside County.
Students walked across the stage and received their diplomas in front of family, friends, and the CBK staff of teachers who have been their mentors and support.
Come Back Kids is a successful recovery program, quadrupling its number of graduates since the first commencement ceremony a year ago, said Debra Sacks, CBK Coordinator Principal. She attributed the success of the program to accessible classrooms county-wide that offer caring teachers and the resources dropout students need to get back into high school and graduate.
 Crystal Davenport, a 2010 CBK graduate, learned about Come Back Kids one day when her boyfriend’s mother read an article featuring the program in a local newspaper. Crystal called and signed up. But she needed more than a diploma. She needed a place to live. The CBK staff introduced her to Safe House where Crystal lived temporarily and was assisted with living and transportation resources. During that time, she gained employment in a retail store. Today, she is residing in Rhode Island and has recently been accepted to college. She will begin her coursework in the fall.
John Olsen III entered the CBK program in 2008 and was one of the first CBK grads for the 2009-2010 school year. Olsen shared that he was going to be a father and that he knew the importance of being a graduate. Olsen will also walk across the stage on June 16th and then continue to work and train at an animal grooming business where he is presently employed.
“There are many more stories,” said Sacks, “…124 more to be exact.”
For information contact:
Rick Peoples,
Public Information Officer
Telephone: (951) 826-6642
Fax: (951) 826-6199
rpeoples@rcoe.us
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