Bringing Students Back to Joliet Township a Multi-Step Approach

Board members and administrators at Joliet Township High School District 204 want to see the students that are sent to the alternative school program at Lincoln School return to their home district. Lincoln School is an alternative school program for disruptive youth in grades 6-12 within Will County and is run by the Will County Regional Office of Education. Students can be sent to Lincoln School for a variety of reasons.

Kelli Bettenhausen, the Youth Experiencing Success in School coordinator at JTHS believes the way to bring students back to the home school district is a multi-step process that begins early.

"We know there is a direct correlation between success freshman year and graduation," Bettenhausen said.

Bettenhausen shared her thoughts at the board of education meeting Tuesday night, which was a continuation of her presentation to board members in August.

In August, Bettenhausen told board members that of the 20 Joliet Township High School students transferred to an alternative school last year because of behavioral problems, 75 percent of them received their high school diplomas.

This is also the second year the district has a committee to investigate the needs of incoming students. Bettenhausen stressed the importance of a good relationship with feeder schools.

This year, 50 students at Joliet Central High School and 35 at Joliet West High School were identified as having attendance issues, eight additional students had discipline issues and five more had social or emotional issues. Knowing the potential challenges gives the district the ability to keep those students from falling through the cracks.

"We are really grateful to have this relationship with our starter schools," Bettenhausen said.

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