A new program in Simi Valley Unified School District is trying to help students stay on track for graduation. The goal of the Middle School Task Force Intervention Program is to identify students at risk of being held back because of failing grades and intervene before it's too late.

According to statistics provided by Bill Waxman, director of secondary education, about 30 percent of students held back a grade before high school end up dropping out by the end of ninth grade- and 60 percent drop out by grade 12.

And students who are held back twice? They stand about a 10 percent chance of walking across the stage on graduation day, Waxman said during a presentation he made to the school board Tuesday night.

The statistics show the importance of keeping students on pace with their peers, he said.

The program is designed to help students on a case-by-case basis.

"Intervention needs to be studentcentered, not contentcentered," Waxman said. "It's not about content, it's about skills; it's about concentrating on the individual student."

The program is meant to aid students who need special attention in particular subjects- especially those found to have certain learning disabilities.

"Teachers have a challenge just delivering the standards-based content," Waxman said. "When dealing with children who have learning difficulties, who need intensive help, the challenge is that much greater."

Middle school students enrolled in intervention classes this year were identified by their standardized test scores and by teacher recommendations, according to Bonnie Carolan, intervention coordinator and teacher at Valley View.

Students who didn't pass at least nine out of 12 classes the previous school year are also enrolled in intervention classes this year, she said.

"We need to take care of the kids that need the most help first," Carolan said.

Since the beginning of the school year, every middle school has selected its own intervention coordinator, whose job it is to teach an intervention class each semester and spend one-on-one time with the at-risk students, Carolan said.

The class is a regular part of the student's daily curriculum but must take the place of a desired elective.

By taking away some privileges, the students are made to see that even though they may be moving to the next grade, they are being left behind in many areas, Carolan said.

"Sometimes we all need that little extra push of motivation," Carolan said. "Sometimes a little fear helps as well."

Parents of at-risk kids are given an education plan detailing what their children need to study and work on in order to advance in school.

An evaluation of the students' progress will be made in June, and again in August.

If a student doesn't follow through with what's required, a recommendation will be made to hold back that student, Carolan said, with the ultimate decision left up to the school board.

Retention is always a possibility but it's not the way the school board ever wants to go, said Janice DiFatta, board president. The intervention program needed to focus on instilling in middle school students a sense of urgency, she said.

"We need to have something there that says it's just not OK to walk through school like this," DiFatta said.