CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
Volunteers with Operation KEYS spent Tuesday making phone calls, and come Saturday, they will be knocking on doors, encouraging students to return and finish school.
It is an attempt by Corpus Christi Independent School District teachers and administrators to keep every youth in school.
The district launched operation KEYS with a barrage of phone calls on Tuesday, to the homes of students who haven't shown up for school. The annual effort is a partnership with the CCISD, the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the City of Corpus Christi.
Organizers said the one-day push is all part of lowering the dropout rate and getting those students who did dropout to return to school and complete their education.
"It's important to save every kid's life that we can," KEYS Coordinator Mary Fischer said. "Every kid that returns to school has the opportunity to finish school and go on to post-secondary education, and that's what we're here for."
On Saturday, teams of volunteers will visit homes of middle and high school students who have not returned to school.
Since Operation KEYS began five years ago, 1,700 homes have been visited by volunteers, more than 800 students have returned to school and 100 students have earned their diploma or GED.
