D2 Center tells OPS board it runs youth academic navigator program to reengage dropouts

OMAHA, Neb. — The D2 Center (Directions to Diploma) presented its work to the Omaha Public Schools Board on Feb. 20, describing a dropout reengagement program that serves students across OPS high schools and alternative programs.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Greg Emmel, told the board the D2 Center targets students who are off track, attending alternative education or who have already dropped out; the organization’s services include three elective credit courses taught by Nebraska-certified teachers, tutoring, career navigators and a youth academic navigator program.

“Building relationships with students who are struggling to complete their high school diploma” is the heart of the D2 Center’s approach, Emmel said. He said the center keeps youth academic navigator caseloads at about 30 to 35 students to maintain individualized attention. Emmel brought a youth academic navigator, Jason Thompson, to the meeting to describe the work in the schools.

Thompson said there are eight youth academic navigators who visit schools, meet with students and assist with reengagement and postsecondary planning. “It makes our job a lot easier to do,” Thompson said, explaining that access to student information and lists of dropouts simplifies targeted outreach.

Why it matters: the D2 Center’s program is positioned as a partner to OPS to help recover students who have left school or who face obstacles to graduation; the center reported that most referrals come from high school counselors and social workers and that the program operates in all nine OPS high schools as well as alternative programs.

No formal board action was taken on the presentation; it was provided as a recognition and informational item during the meeting.