Once a person leaves the public school environment, that person is free to seek his or her own path for life and career development. The St. Lucie County PBDP has striven to create a program that could truly serve each student by personalizing their school experiences to meet their individual needs. The program uses a highly individualized, nontraditional approach to education. At the onset, students are assessed to determine their knowledge and needs. An educational plan is developed jointly with the student, counselor, and parents.
Students master academic studies in a computer lab.
By June 1994, the PBDP had cut the dropout rate to less than two percent. More than ninety percent of its graduates go on to college, enter the military, or take entry-level employment. There are also significant improvements in attendance, GPAs, and first-time honor roll students. Publications Cahill, M. Strengthening Youth Employment Programs Through Youth Development. Oxford Press, 1990.