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IMPORTANT!
Please Read

Referral Guidelines & Next Steps

Thank you for your interest in referring a student to Boosted Diplomas, and for supporting youth in accessing educational opportunities.

 

This page outlines our eligibility requirements, what to expect after submitting a referral, and an overview of who we are and the services we provide. Whether you’ve already submitted a referral or are considering one, this information will help ensure the student is a strong fit for our program.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to info@BoostedDiplomas.org

Student Requirements

What makes a student a good candidate?

A successful referral is a student who can realistically participate and benefit from services.

 

Readiness to participate

  • The student has been given an overview of our program and is willing and able to receive services

  • The student can treat staff with respect and engage safely and appropriately

  • The student does not have behavioral challenges that would prevent meaningful participation in tutoring or EA support

 

Meeting location requirement

The student must have a reliable, physical location where Boosted staff can meet consistently. Examples include:

  • Foster/Family home 

  • After-school program

  • Treatment facility only when the student is still enrolled in school

  • Another approved community location that allows consistent weekly sessions

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Safety and stability

  • The student must not be on the run nor in long term treatment, as these situations typically mean they are not enrolled in a credit earning curriculum.

  • The student should be generally enrolled and connected to school

    • We understand engagement may be low. In some cases, we can help students become more engaged.

    • However, there must be a basic ability to locate the student consistently and participate safely.

 

Graduation feasibility (high school students)

For all high school students, we must confirm there is a realistic path to graduation.

  • Students who do not currently have a clear or achievable path to earning a diploma may not be eligible, as there may not be enough time for any intervention to lead to an adjusted, standard, honors, or alternative diploma.

  • In most instances, if a student is deemed ineligible they may be connected with an Educational Advocate (EA) to help assess their situation and provide consult guidance on potential next steps.

Expectations for Student & Caregivers

To protect staff time and create a consistent and effective program for all youth, we have clear expectations for everyone involved in supporting the student.

 

Student expectations

We expect students to:

  • Show up consistently and communicate if they cannot

  • Be respectful toward staff and the location where sessions occur

  • Try their best and participate in good faith

 

Caregiver and referral partner expectations

We ask that caregivers and the individual making the referral help create a stable and supportive environment for the student’s success by:

  • Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding scheduling, updates, and any changes, including cancellations or reschedules

  • Ensuring the student has a designated time and space within the home for educational work and tutoring sessions

  • Providing a distraction free environment where students can focus and engage fully

  • Supporting access to necessary materials, tools, or technology needed for sessions

 

If additional tools or technology are needed to support student success, Boosted Diplomas is happy to help provide them whenever possible.

 

3 strikes and exit

If a student repeatedly:

  • Does not show up or is consistently unavailable

  • Behaves in a way that is disrespectful or unsafe toward staff

  • Runs away or becomes unreachable

the student may be exited from the program.

What Happens Now

Next steps

Submit A Full Referral

If agree with the expectations outlined on this page and you believe your student is a good fit, after you've completed the referral request in your guardian portal, we will invite you to submit the full referral form and share the complete details we need to review the request.

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From there, here is what happens next...

Filling Checklist Form
What We'll will do

 

We commit to:

  • Confirming receipt of the referral

  • Reviewing eligibility and readiness promptly

  • Staffing and pairing as quickly as possible when the student is a fit and capacity allows

  • Communicating key updates to the referral source and appropriate members of the student’s team

Filling Application Form
After you submit a referral

  • Intake check: We confirm we have the required information.

  • Program fit review: We assess readiness and eligibility based on the criteria above.

  • Staffing decision: If the student is a fit and we have capacity to take them on, we begin placement planning and schedule a staffing meeting with you and our team.

  • Pairing: We match the student with a tutor and/or Educational Advocate based on needs.

  • Updates: We keep the referring partner and the student’s team informed as the referral moves forward.

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Boosted Diplomas

Who we Are

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About Us

Boosted Diplomas is a Nevada nonprofit serving foster and at risk youth in grades 1 to 12 across northern Nevada. Founded in 2019, we provide relationship based tutoring and educational advocacy designed to keep students connected to school and on a real path to graduation.

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Our primary goal is to ensure that every student we serve is supported in getting back on track or staying on track so they can graduate with a high school diploma in hand. To do this effectively, we focus on enrolling students as early as possible, giving us the strongest opportunity to create meaningful, lasting change in their academic journey and overall life trajectory.

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Our model is built around a simple idea. Consistent, trusted adults change outcomes for youth navigating instability.

​Many foster youth experience frequent placement and school changes, which can disrupt learning, relationships, and access to the right services. We meet students where they are including foster homes, schools, after school programs, and other approved settings, and stay alongside them through the ups and downs so support does not disappear when circumstances change.

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To ensure we can deliver on our mission and set students up for success, we prioritize working with youth who have a realistic path to graduation within the support we can provide. This allows us to focus our resources where they can have the greatest impact while continuing to advocate for expanded solutions for students with more significant barriers. Please review our full suite of services described below! 

Our Services

Tutoring, Educational Advocacy, & Peer Navigation

Tutoring

  • What it is: 1:1, in-person academic support that combines tutoring with consistent mentorship. Sessions focus on the student’s current assignments and skills, while also building study habits, confidence, and trust with a stable adult.

  • What tutoring can look like: Homework support, test prep, foundational skill building (reading, writing, math), organization and planning, and helping the student re-engage when school has felt difficult or inconsistent.

  • How we tailor support: Goals and priorities are adjusted based on the student’s grade level, learning needs, attendance patterns, and what the school is currently asking of the student.

  • Frequency: Typically 1–3 hours per week during the school year (adjusted based on need and availability). We aim for predictable weekly time so support is consistent.

  • Duration: Tutors are generally paired for the school year to build consistency. When possible, we keep the same tutor to avoid repeated transitions for the student.

  • Where sessions happen: In an approved, consistent location (see “Meeting location requirement” above). A reliable meeting place helps us maintain routines, protect safety, and reduce cancellations.

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Peer Navigation (Internal support)

  • What it is: Behind-the-scenes support that strengthens tutoring effectiveness. Peer Navigation helps turn “I’m overwhelmed” into a clear plan by organizing what needs to happen during and between sessions.

  • What it includes: Tracking grades and assignments, helping gather materials (logins, syllabi, missing work lists) and handing them off to tutors, supporting academic follow-through, and helping the student stay organized so tutoring time can be used effectively.

  • How this supports the student: When a student has missing work, inconsistent attendance, or multiple classes to manage, our Peer Navigators help create structure so progress is realistic and measurable.

  • How this supports the tutor and EA: It reduces time spent troubleshooting logistics during sessions and helps the team stay aligned on priorities and next steps.

Educational Advocacy (EA)

  • What it is: An Educational Advocate is the student’s education point person and systems navigator. EAs help make school requirements and services understandable and actionable for the student’s team.

  • What EAs do: Coordinate with schools and caregivers, attend relevant meetings, monitor credits and grades, and help remove barriers to staying on track. This can include clarifying graduation plans, supporting course placement, and helping ensure appropriate supports are in place.

  • How EA differs from tutoring: EA is less about weekly academic instruction and more about systems-level support that keeps the student moving forward, even when there are changes in placement, school, or team members.

  • How we communicate: EAs provide clear, regular updates to the student’s team about progress, barriers, and next steps, while respecting confidentiality and the student’s needs.

  • Duration: EAs are intentionally paired long-term, often staying with students through graduation, because stability and continuity are critical for successful planning and follow-through.

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Questions?

 

Email: info@boosteddiplomas.org

 

Thank you for partnering with us to help students stay in school, build stability, and graduate.

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