America graduates from its dropout challenge | Opinion
As time marched on and more jobs required a high school diploma and even some post-secondary training or education, the costs to individuals, families and economies continued to mount. The dropout challenge was also most pronounced in regions where labor markets were most unforgiving for the uneducated. A cycle of despair also emerged — dropouts were eight times more likely to end up in prison than graduates and disproportionately gave birth to children who would drop out.
Another effort emerged that showed the dropout challenge was targeted, with 50% of dropouts coming from just 15% of high schools, enabling a focused response.Federal law, governors compacts and accountability systems at all levels drove the creation of graduation rate goals, plans to meet them, and reporting over time, including data on students of different races, ethnicities, family incomes, and with disabilities and English learner status.
Public attention and cross-sector collaboration increased, spearheaded by a Grad Nation Campaign that brought together leaders across education, policymaking, business, nonprofits and the media. Time magazine ran a cover story, “Dropout Nation”; Oprah Winfrey ran two back-to-back shows; Education Week initiated Diplomas Count; and public media with its 125 affiliates created American Graduate to keep the nation’s eye on the challenge.
After two decades of hard-driving work by students, educators, parents, counselors, administrators, nonprofits, business leaders and policymakers, the nation had something to celebrate — over 5 million more students graduated high school rather than dropping out, with rates rising from 71% in 2001 to 86.5% in 2020. It took a pandemic to stop 13 consecutive years of high school graduation rate gains.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Surge in homebuilding seen as moment of hope, relief for Americans squeezed by housing costsThere is a surge of new homebuilding coming as a welcome sign for a tight housing market and Americans whose monthly budgets are stretched by housing costs.
Read more »
We must demand truth in America | OpinionThe top 1% take home more than all middle-class families and double that of the bottom 20% of families.
Read more »