Our Programs



During the school year, Student Advocacy expects to serve about 1,000 children and teens. Services may be provided under one of the following projects, under support from our general funds, or as a fee-for-service. Through these projects, we get kids on track to school success and improve communication between home and school.


The Overcoming the Odds Project

-annually serving 350 children

The Overcoming the Odds project provides educational advocacy services to help resolve the school problems of children and youths who are already experiencing significant problems which place the child at-risk of school failure and/or dropout. Some of the young people helped are:

The results of our service: improved educational opportunities. We resolve problems that prevent young people from entering or receiving appropriate educational services in school, thereby preventing dropouts and juvenile delinquency. In addition, the project empowers parents to work more effectively with their child's school.


A Better Education for Hispanic and Immigrant Children

-annually serving 50 children

During the past 10 years, the percentage of Hispanic children in our region has increased by more than 49%. Although the opportunity for a public education is highly regarded by many Hispanic families and recent immigrants, their children face many obstacles resulting in significantly higher dropout rates and more limited educational achievement. Language and cultural differences often create an additional hurdle that overlays the hurdles that potentially face all students, e.g., special needs, emotional disabilities, homelessness, significant family problems that disrupt schooling, or behavioral problems.

In this project, educational advocacy services are provided to families who are Hispanic and/or recent immigrants and whose children have a school problem. We provide educational advocacy services to:

The Class Project

-annually serving 100 children

Children from Low-income families Attending School Successfully

Education is a critical tool for escaping poverty and yet many low-income children face serious obstacles to school participation and success. School success among economically disadvantaged children is undermined by lack of resources, higher mobility rates, homelessness, movement of children among kin, and related problems such as incarceration and substance abuse.

In this project, educational advocacy services are provided to help economically disadvantaged children obtain the educational opportunities to which they are legally entitled. To qualify for service under this project, families must have incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

Ability Beyond Disability

-annually serving 250 children

Among the schools in our region, there are over 13,000 students with disabilities such as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, and severe cases of neurological impairments including Tourette's Syndrome, learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder. Some are also visually-impaired, hearing-impaired, physically disabled, or have chronic health problems.

Students with disabilities have the highest dropout rate. Even if they graduate, they are not well prepared for their future; more than half will remain unemployed thus undermining their chances for independent living. These problems often related to a limited educational program that is based on weak planning of Special Education services. In response, Ability Beyond Disability has three key goals: 1) to maximize the student's educational benefits within the limits of the law; 2) to ensure a meaningful educational experience that will prepare the student for the next phase of his or her life; and 3) to resolve school problems that undermine the family's efforts to keep their child living at home, despite significant disabilities.


A Stitch in Time

-annually serving 125 children

Disabilities that are hidden are easily overlooked at school. The resulting school problems—rather than being treated as the symptoms of learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, or emotional disabilities—are treated as developmental differences with the assumption that the child will "catch up." As the student’s frustration increases and the child acts out, parents and schools debate the child's 'real' problems, a debate that easily becomes tense.

Meanwhile, critical time lapses: the National Center for Learning Disabilities reports that intervention by the third grade is critical to the academic success of learning disabled students. To intervene after problems have intensified and become further complicated by low self-esteem and a track record of failure, places the child at much greater risk and lowers the chances for effective intervention. Not surprisingly, when disabilities are not addressed, the risk of academic failure, dropout, and involvement in the juvenile justice system increases. As the old adage goes 'a stitch in time saves nine.'

A Stitch in Time targets elementary-school children, ages 5 to 11, with hidden handicaps, who are experiencing educational problems such as failing grades or low achievement, or frequent disciplinary problems. In response, this project offers these pupils and their families help in obtaining needed and appropriate educational services.


Kids in Transition

-annually serving 65 children

Children who are in transition–in foster care, returning from a residential placement, living in a runaway or homeless shelter, or returning home after living in a shelter–often need help to ensure that their education continues without interruption and that any special issues related to the transition are addressed at school.

In response, this project offer kids in transition help in obtaining appropriate school services while in care and/or when they return home. Getting kids on track to school success is a key component of ensuring a successful transition back into the community.


All Kinds of Families

-annually serving 40 families

Numerous research studies show that parents' involvement is key to school success. Yet, many parents feel uncomfortable or even unwelcome as a partner in their child’s education. In response, this project provides training to parents on being an effective advocate for their child. Training targets families who have traditionally been excluded including low-income parents, parents with disabilities, Black and Hispanic parents, and parents with limited educations. Our publications on children’s educational rights, which are written at a low-literacy level, support this project.