It may seem a little strange to interrupt academics to talk about leadership. But at Noble and other schools across Maine, this happens for 9th graders every week as part of a program called BARR, which stands for Building Assets, Reducing Risks. It’s something that school leaders say could be a way to help cash-strapped rural school districts take on some big challenges without spending much more money…. The program has shown success, with graduation rates rising and dropout rates declining, not only in Bucksport but in about 19 other Maine schools. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education just awarded Spurwink Services $20 million to expand the program nationwide.
Maine Public Radio: To Help Struggling 9th Graders, Maine Schools Team Up Students, Teachers
