In an effort to reduce truancy and drop-out rates, the UCLA School Management Program will offer two-day institutes, called "Discover the Power of Advisories," designed to ensure that each student in secondary schools connects on a meaningful level with at least one adult, a teacher or an administrator in the school community.

The Education Alliance at Brown University originally developed the advisory institutes based on research showing that students who feel engaged, recognized and supported by school leaders are less likely to drop out, or to have poor attendance. The UCLA School Management Program has been authorized by Education Alliance to offer the institutes.

"We are delighted and honored that the Education Alliance has chosen SMP to help facilitate the institutes," said Dan Chernow, executive director for the School Management Program.

Beginning in October, the institutes will offer teachers and administrators at secondary-level schools throughout Los Angeles the opportunity to create a vision and action plan for building and implementing an advisories program at their schools.

"This is another step in the collaboration between the UCLA School Management Program and the Education Alliance at Brown University," said Joe DiMartino, director of secondary school redesign with the Education Alliance.

The first institute will be held Oct. 18–19 in Los Angeles with a follow-up day to be determined. The location will be announced. The conference fee is $650 and includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch, as well as parking. University credit for the institute for an additional fee is pending approval.

The UCLA School Management Program (http://www.smp.gseis.ucla.edu/) is a UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies center that has worked with public school teachers and school administrators since 1992.

For more information on the UCLA School Management Program, or to schedule an interview regarding the advisories institutes, please contact Chernow at (310) 825-2488, or by e-mail at dchernow@smp.gseis.ucla.edu.