East Brunswick District’s FLEX Program Moves From Strength-To-Strength

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Back in 2016, the East Brunswick School District started the FLEX program to help at-risk students graduate.

The program looked to develop social, emotional and academic skills among students so they can be successful in a traditional environment and the world outside as well.

Today, the program and moved to greater strength and is successfully helping students who are at risk of not graduating.

During the last Board of Education meeting, Jamie Kinard, the Supervisor of Alternative Programs at the school district made a presentation to the BOE and community.

During the 2017-2018 school year, FLEX began as a full-year program at Churchill Junior High School.

“In 2021, we had the opportunity, thanks to COVID, to come into East Brunswick High School. And we have now integrated ourselves fully in the high school,” Kinard said. “Our students benefit from not only that social environment but all the support that the high school offers.”

One of the biggest accomplishments of the program is that today FLEX has a 90 percent graduation rate. These students mainly include those who would have dropped out.

“We get 90 percent of them out with a high school diploma. For the 10 percent who don't, I'm even more proud to tell you that we make sure they either go to the elite program to get their GED, or they're in a work program outside of this. So, we make sure that they're successful in some way outside of East Brunswick,” Kinard said.

The program curriculum is built using a data-driven approach. The students in the FLEX program also benefit from the district’s ESS program.

The district's FLEX program now also includes SIFE students or Students with Interrupted Formal Education. These are the students who have not been in school for a few years, a lot of times they have moved from outside the country or anywhere in the United States.

“These students are lacking the skills but not lacking motivation or desire to be successful,” Kinard said. “We recognize that they need even more support to catch them up and make sure they have a successful life outside.”

Kinard thanked the school district and administration for providing them with the resources that helped them make the program a success.

“Relationships are the key to success for any student, but especially those who are at risk,” she said.

In the coming year, Kinard hopes to start an eight-grade after-school intervention program; expand the FLEX program and start an integrated science and pathway to algebra program.

To see Kinard’s full presentation and learn more about the FLEX program, click here.

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