October 1, 2009 - Posted by Cassandra Stabbert
According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, approximately 1.2 million students do not graduate from high school in four years, if at all. Most of these dropouts come from minority and low-income communities, further widening the opportunity gap.
High school dropouts are more likely to experience poverty, poor health, and incarceration during their adult lives than people who graduate from high school. The dropout crisis comes at a high economic cost for both the individual and society – resulting directly in lost wages and high government expenditures. It has been estimated that the dropouts from the class of 2008 will cost the United States almost $319 billion in lost income over their lifetime.
The Alliance suggests that the role of the federal government (PDF) should focus on developing a common set of standards for American high schools by aligning assessments and creating common definitions of proficiency and graduation rates. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of graduates and ensure that these graduates are prepared for either college or the workplace.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D. N.M., recently introduced the Graduation Promise Act (GPA), a bill aimed at minimizing the number of high school dropouts and turning around low- performing high schools.
The GPA would provide approximately $2.5 billion of federal funding in the form of competitive grants to high schools with the highest dropout rates. About $2.44 billion of that money would be used for the High School Improvement and Dropout Reduction Fund, which would encourage schools to develop partnerships with local communities.
Another $60 million would be for districts, charter schools, non-profits, and colleges for the implementation of innovative school models that help struggling students and students who have dropped out.
Categories: Education
