ACES program expands to Miami County

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PIQUA — Four Miami County schools are now on board for a program to help high school students in academic need that has a proven track record in Darke County.

For the first time, officials at Piqua, Covington, Newton and Bradford schools are able to enroll students in the ACES Program. Established in Darke County, the move into Miami County is a collaborative expansion effort between Darke and Miami County schools, both Darke and Miami County Educational Service Centers, and the Council on Rural Services (CRS) in Piqua.

ACES stands for Achievement Center for Educational Success and falls under the Gateway Youth Programs unit of the CRS. According to CRS, the plan is to provide a structured, supportive and educational environment for students who are being unsuccessful in the regular school setting.

The program also offers services to address social, emotional, behavioral and substance abuse needs while receiving academic credit towards their high school diploma.

Participating Darke County school districts include Ansonia, Arcanum-Butler, Franklin Monroe, Mississinawa Valley, Tri-Village and Versailles. Classes for Miami County students are held at the CRS, 201 RM Davis Parkway, Piqua.

According to Program Coordinator Jeff Vaughn of Greenville, the ACES program assists students in grades 9-12 who may be credit-deficient, have inappropriate credits to graduate, in need of academic interventions, and in need of an alternative to expulsion or dropping out.

“The students are required to earn their graduation credits and pass the state standardized test. These kids were close to being a dropout. This is a win-win because we are going to have about 30 students graduate with a diploma from their home school district,” Vaughn said.

He said the graduation rate of those participating is in the high 90’s percentagewise.

Courtesy photo Deron Johns (standing), classroom instructor for the ACES program, works with a student regarding a subject recently. Johns teaches the first-year classes for at-risk students known as Achievement Center for Educational Success. A joint effort with Darke County education officials is providing academic assistance in classes held at the Council of Rural Services in Piqua.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_ACES-photo.jpgCourtesy photo Deron Johns (standing), classroom instructor for the ACES program, works with a student regarding a subject recently. Johns teaches the first-year classes for at-risk students known as Achievement Center for Educational Success. A joint effort with Darke County education officials is providing academic assistance in classes held at the Council of Rural Services in Piqua.

By Jim Painter

For Civitas Media

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