Second in a series.

WATERLOO - Carrie Surly had long been identified as at-risk for dropping out of high school.

She began attending Expo High School during her freshman year. The alternative school features small class sizes and more individual attention for students facing difficulties at East and West high schools. By her fourth year, though, Surly was faltering.

A counselor told her about GRAD Connection, which offers struggling students greater flexibility to complete their graduation requirements. That includes independent study and a waiver from the minimum required number of classes per semester.

"Two years ago, I started with one credit," Surly said. "And this year I really got going on it."

She decided to complete the remaining four credits in order to graduate. And she did.

"I walked the stage May 21," Surly said. "It's something that you have to want to do and that kind of gave me the push to do it."

She is among 100 students in the program that earned 2008 diplomas this spring from Waterloo's three high schools. GRAD Connection is one of the major initiatives that Waterloo Community Schools has put in place during Superintendent Dewitt Jones' six-year tenure. He retires today.

GRAD Connection coordinator Cheri Cederlund noted that various approaches are necessary to help individual students overcome their academic difficulties. While Expo is effective for some, students like Surly need more. Cederlund credited Jones for recognizing "we needed more drop-out prevention" and acting to put GRAD Connection in place.

"Every student that you get to finish that one credit increases your graduation rate," she said. "So, if no one is working on that - which no one was before Dewitt came up with the program - then those kids are just lost."

The program has served 777 students in the four years since its inception.

"About 360 have graduated so far," said Cederlund, adding that the 360 represent 47 percent of the total. "Of course, I have a list of hopefuls for the summer."

Enrolled students have until Aug. 20, the day before school starts next fall, to earn a 2008 diploma. They can keep working toward a diploma until Oct. 1 of the year they turn 21. Oct. 1 is the day each year Iowa schools take an official count of students.

Of those who haven't graduated, 22 percent are actively participating in the program. Seven percent are still eligible to participate but remain inactive.

Another 13 percent turned 21 before finishing and are now ineligible for the program. At that point, their options are earning an adult high school diploma or the General Educational Development diploma through Hawkeye Community College.

The district's graduation rate stood at 73.1 percent in 2003-04, the year before the program started. It had risen to 75.9 percent by 2006-07, the last year data is available. Drop outs have been on the decline, as well, going from 4.7 percent for grades nine through 12 in 2003-04 to 4.28 percent in 2006-07. Last year, 142 of 3,317 high school students dropped out.

Striving to graduate

GRAD Connection is operated in partnership with Hawkeye, which houses the program at its downtown Metro Center campus. GRAD stands for Graduate with Required Academics and Diploma, and those who enroll must still complete the 40 credits needed to earn a diploma.

"The big part of this is that they get to graduate from their home schools," Cederlund said, distinguishing that from a diploma from the GRAD Connection program. Those who finish in time can also participate in commencement ceremonies. Such factors are often an important motivation for the students.

"I cried all day Friday because I couldn't walk," West High senior Jamie Aschenbrenner said the week after the school's May 23 graduation. The 18-year-old enrolled in GRAD Connection earlier this year after missing too much school due to surgeries for kidney stones, a condition with which she was diagnosed at age 10.

Two months before graduation, Aschenbrenner realized she could still earn a 2008 diploma and redoubled efforts to complete her remaining 3-1/2 credits. Unfortunately, she wasn't done in time for the ceremony. Aschenbrenner still has time to finish her work this summer.

West senior Destiny O'Connor enrolled in the program two days before graduation, after discovering she would not pass one of her classes. She now spends time at the Metro Center, completing a health class on her days off from work.

"I have, like, five chapters left," she said last week. "Then I can go get my diploma."

Because of the failed class, O'Connor couldn't go through the graduation ceremony as planned.

"But I'm still going to get my cap and gown," she said. The items were already paid for, so O'Connor and her mom decided to get pictures taken once the final credit is completed.

Next fall, O'Connor plans to attend Hawkeye or Kaplan University to study business management and later transfer to the University of Northern Iowa.

GRAD Connection's requirements are relaxed, to a degree. Typically, district students must earn two semester-long credits each for ninth- and 10th-grade English, physical science, biology, U.S. history and world studies. GRAD Connection allows students to earn one credit in each of those and then take any elective in the respective subject areas. In addition, GRAD Connection allows any combination of 16 electives that students usually must take within specific subject guidelines.

Students can work independently on courses in Metro's learning center, with assistance from Hawkeye staff. They can get one-on-one help from the math or special needs-teacher who staff the program's Metro Center office. They also can take some classes at their regular high school.

"The students, they love this environment," Cederlund said.

"I attended at West High and I felt more comfortable here than I did there," said Brittney Jackson, a 20-year-old who recently stopped by Cederlund's office to pick up her diploma. "Basically, they make you feel like you can achieve anything when you don't feel you can."

Jackson was going through the GRAD Connection program in 2005 while pregnant with her daughter. But health problems related to the pregnancy caused her to stop attending. She finished after returning last fall.

"Since then, it made me want to go to college," Jackson said. She enrolled in an intensive "mini-mester" nurse aide program at Hawkeye this spring. She hopes to eventually complete the coursework required to become a licensed practical nurse and registered nurse.

"A couple years - I think I can achieve it," she said.

Surly, the Expo graduate, emerged from the program with greater confidence in herself and a desire to attend college, something she hadn't contemplated in the past. While striving to complete the credit requirements, Surly also discovered she likes reading.

"Now I read books all the time. I mean, you don't see me without a book," she said.

"I think it's because I had to push myself, not them pushing me."

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.