Raising the Bar: Impacts and Implementation of the New Heights Program for Expectant and Parenting Teens in Washington, dc

New Heights reduced the number of unexcused absences per year among parenting 
females. 
As described in Chapter II, New Heights sought to improve school engagement through 
a combination of advocacy, case management, and the use of incentives. Consistent with this 
objective, New Heights reduced unexcused absences by 4.5 days per semester among parenting 
females. Relative to the pre-expansion average among parenting females, this represents a 
reduction in unexcused absences of about 18.6 percent. 
New Heights increased excused absences per semester among parenting females.
When 
students accumulate too many unexcused absences they can be subject to administrative 
penalties such as disenrollment from school. As part of their advocacy work, New Heights 
coordinators helped parenting students to understand when their absences related to pregnancy, 
maternity leave, and child care could be excused; helped students to advocate for themselves; 
and empowered them to submit the necessary paperwork to have an absence excused (Chapter 
II). As evidence of the effectiveness of this work, the New Heights impact among parenting 
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RAISING THE BAR: IMPACTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW HEIGHTS PROGRAM
 
females was an increase in excused absences of 1.4 per semester. This represents a 23.7 percent 
increase in excused absences relative to the pre-expansion average among parenting females. 
New Heights increased days attended per semester. 
The impact of New Heights 
expansion on the days attended per semester was about 3.4 days, or about 7.0 days per school 
year. Relative to the pre-expansion average among parenting females, this represents an increase 
in days attended of about 5.8 percent. 
New Heights increased credits received per year. 
By reducing unexcused absences, 
increasing days attended, and monitoring and providing incentives for academic progress, New 
Heights sought to increase credits earned among parenting females (Chapter II). Reflecting the 
potential for these efforts to increase credits accumulated, New Heights caused an increase of 1.1 
credits per year. Compared with the pre-expansion average among parenting females, this 
constitutes a 24.4 percent increase in credits earned per year.