Supporting Student Success Through Early Intervention

Every student deserves the chance to thrive in middle and high school. But when they begin to fall behind—whether it’s due to poor attendance, failing grades, or behavioral issues—those early warning signs can be easy to miss. Without timely help, small challenges can snowball into major setbacks, putting students at risk of dropping out.

Educators work hard to meet students’ needs, but too often lack the tools to identify who’s falling behind and when. That’s where early warning systems come in, offering a practical, research-backed way to flag students who need help and intervene before it’s too late.   
 

To help schools address this challenge, AIR developed the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS)—a user-friendly, evidence-based framework that helps educators recognize risk factors early and act quickly.

Through EWIMS, AIR helps schools:

• Track key indicators like attendance, course performance, and credit accumulation to identify students who may need help.
   
• Simplify processes so educators spend less time analyzing data and more time supporting students.
   
• Build capacity through professional development and coaching, so teams know how—and when—to step in effectively.
   
• Customize the model to reflect local priorities and school context—whether rural, urban, or suburban.
   

With the right tools in place, schools can change the trajectory of a student’s life. Across the country, educators using EWIMS are spotting challenges earlier, responding more effectively, and helping students get back on track before it’s too late. 

In Michigan, for example, statewide graduation rates rose in 2023 for every student group. State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice credited the boost, in part, to schools implementing AIR’s early warning model:

“Hard work by our local schools is paying off. That includes adopting evidence-based and data-driven processes such as the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System.”

Dr. Corinne Edwards of the Michigan Department of Education put it simply:

“If schools can identify these students early and step in to support them, we can get them back on track to graduate.”

National data backs them up. A 2017 study of more than 35,000 students across 73 high schools found that in schools using EWIMS:

• Course failure rates dropped from 26% to 21%.
• Chronic absenteeism fell by nearly one-third.
• GPA gains were largest among students most at risk of dropping out.

States like Colorado, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia are seeing similar success—and the model continues to grow. AIR is now partnering with schools in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina to refine and expand the system, bringing this proven approach to more communities. 

Today, EWIMS is recognized by the National Dropout Prevention Center as a model program with strong evidence of effectiveness. But more importantly, it’s giving educators a way to do what they do best: show up for students who need them most.  

By equipping educators with simple, effective tools, AIR is helping more students stay on track, graduate on time, and build brighter futures.