Check & Connect

Check & Connect is a dropout prevention intervention for high school students with learning, emotional, or behavioral disabilities who are at risk of dropping out. The program has two main components: 'Check' involves continuous monitoring of student performance indicators (attendance, suspensions, grades, credits) on a daily basis, and 'Connect' involves individualized attention and support. Each student is assigned a monitor who functions as a mentor and case worker, staying with the student across multiple years and schools. Monitors meet with students at least twice monthly (more frequently when problems arise) to discuss educational progress, problem-solving strategies, and the importance of staying in school. Basic interventions include regular structured discussions, while intensive interventions are tailored to individual needs and include problem solving, academic support (homework assistance, tutoring, schedule changes), and recreational/community service activities. The program emphasizes family outreach with frequent monitor contact with family members. Monitors can be graduate students or community members with human services training, supervised by program coordinators who are teachers or school psychologists. In the studies reviewed, monitors worked 20 hours per week with caseloads averaging 25 students.