A New Guidebook Is Available to Help Communities Tackle High School Dropout Crisis
America’s Promise Alliance has released a revised version of “Grad Nation,” an evidence-based guide to help increase the high school graduation rate that is available free of charge online. Founded by Gen. Colin Powell, the alliance is a multisector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. The College Board is one of the group’s alliance partners.
The report cites that one-third of all students and half of minority youth — 1.2 million students — fail to graduate from high school each year. Many of those who do graduate lack the basic skills needed to succeed in college, work and life. The report’s “road map” includes the latest research, best practices and tools for meeting specific high school dropout challenges. In addition to the research-based guidance for addressing the crisis, “Grad Nation” also includes ready-to-print tools and links to additional
online resources.
Authored by Robert Balfanz and Joanna Hornig Fox from the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, and John M. Bridgeland and Mary McNaught of Civic Enterprises, “Grad Nation” presents a compelling case for a broad cross-section of all organizations and individuals to get involved. The guide offers a variety of resources and solutions that address the challenge at every level, while recognizing that there is no silver bullet for reducing the nation's dropout rate.
