HOUSTON -- The Houston Independent School District reached out to parents of dropouts in the school district, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Wednesday.

Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra, along with HISD volunteers, believe sometimes a simple phone call to the student's home is all it takes to get that child back in school.

"They've indicated that several have agreed to come back, so it's an important activity," said Saavedra.

This is the fifth year that HISD has phoned parents. School officials said it is this little effort that brings more than 2,000 students back to school each year.

It's volunteer Melissa Davis' first year making calls. She's calling the homes of students who failed to show up during the first week of school.

"There are people who care about them, and it's a chance to reach out to students and families to show them that we care," said Davis.

Although there are a number of reasons students drop out, some leave school because they become parents.

At Lee High School, officials have a day care on campus to help them out.

The principal said some students just don't realize the opportunities or services available to them.

"There's so many pressures and strains for different students and they want to give up, but it's our job to help them overcome them and we can support them," said Steve Amstutz, the principal of Lee High School.

The phone bank operation continues until Thursday.

It is in advance of a citywide door-to-door campaign on Saturday with thousands of volunteers walking through neighborhoods to find dropouts and persuade them to come back to class.