A Proven Solution

“Changing student’s attitudes, values and behaviors, and providing support & resources to their families with early intervention can reduce drop-out rates.” Russell Rumberger, Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis

Character education & mentoring provide students with the socio-emotional skills that help make possible and support their academic and professional success.

Elevate Orlando offers a comprehensive solution towards the needs of underserved youth, with components designed to develop character and build relationships with students and their families.

The following research supports Elevate Orlando’s comprehensive, relational model:

Character education is becoming a priority in our nation’s education reform as we are increasingly realizing that character development must be an intentional part of education rather than just a process that happens naturally. (Haynes, C C., & Thomas, O. (2002). Character education. Finding common ground A guide to religious liberty in public schools (pp. 151-166). Nashville: First Amendment Center.)
After-school programs can promote learning, protect youth from negative peer pressure, and create opportunities for them to form relationships with caring, non-parent adults. (Research June 11, 2010, Youth Mentoring In Perspective)
Relationship longevity is particularly important, especially since youth who are referred to mentoring programs often come from single-parent homes, and many have experienced multiple failed or disappointing relationships with adults in the past. (Research June 11, 2010 Youth Mentoring In Perspective)
Our full-time staff members go through extensive training and are available to kids 24/7. A survey of more than 700 mentoring programs found that 36% of volunteers received less than 2 hours of training, and 22% received none at all. (Research June 11, 2010, Youth Mentoring In Perspective)

[Details retrieved by permission from http://www.coloradouplift.org/drupal/results]