Achievements Unlocked program, developed by the Washoe County Department of Social Services, is changing the educational trajectory of students in foster care.

Only 50% of the 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. complete high school by the age of 18. Achievements Unlocked has been in Washoe County for four years now, and in those four years they have helped around 100 students that are in foster care get back on track to graduation. "The national average for graduation rate for foster students is 50% and we have been able to get up to 75%," says Keri Pruitt with Washoe County Department of Social Services.

Washoe County Department of Social Services, they wanted to create a way for students in foster care to get the help they need by finding one-on-one tutoring for the student and doing home visits. Thanks to the Walter S. Johnson Foundation they department has been able to create Achievements Unlocked.

The department originally has been working with Sierra Association of Foster Families to get tutors for the children in foster care but recently they have teamed up with a local tutoring company called Boosted Learning. The company originally did private tutoring but now has been able to expand thanks to Achievements Unlocked and help more students for free. "Our tutors feed back of the students have been awesome. To see them dive in and see they are actually interested in improving themselves," says Cooper Richardson, Co-Owner of Boosted Learning.

Achievements Unlocked initially received funding from the Walter S. Johnson foundation, and is currently seeking additional funding with the goal of expanding services to all high school-aged foster youth in Washoe County.

If you would like to help you can contact Washoe County Department of Social Services at 775-328-3914 

For more information on Boosted Learning visit: http://www.boostedlearning.com/

Washoe County contributed to this reportÂ