IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 733 

Recognizing the importance of improving the high school graduation rate 

of foster youth. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 10, 2007 

Mr. WELLER of Illinois (for himself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, and Mrs. BACHMANN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 

Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of improving the high school 

graduation rate of foster youth. 

Whereas an average of about 7,000 students become dropouts 

from high school in the United States every school day; 

Whereas, in an average week during the 2006 school year, 

about 8 percent of youth ages 16 through 19 were neither enrolled in school nor working; 

Whereas about 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year; 

Whereas about 84 percent of people in the United States 25 

years and older have completed high school, but only 

about half of foster youth graduate from high school; 


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•HRES 733 IH 

Whereas many children entering foster care may have educational deficits and therefore need additional attention 

in order to graduate in a timely manner; 

Whereas for foster youth aging out of the foster care system, 

1 in 4 will be incarcerated within the first 2 years after 

leaving the system and over 1 in 5 will become homeless 

at some time after age 18; 

Whereas high school dropouts are more likely than graduates 

to be periodically unemployed, to go on government assistance, or to become incarcerated; 

Whereas median earnings in 2006 for those who have not 

completed high school were $18,641 per year, and median earnings for those completing high school was 40 

percent higher at $26,123 per year; 

Whereas, in 2006, the poverty rate for those with less than 

a high school education was about twice as high as for 

those who have completed high school—23.7 percent 

versus 11.5 percent; 

Whereas graduating from high school leads to higher lifetime 

earnings, better health, fewer teen births, parents who 

raise healthier and better educated children, lower crime, 

less reliance on government programs and services, and 

higher participation in civic activities such as voting and 

volunteering; 

Whereas countless social workers, judges, foster parents, advocates, and others are working tirelessly to help foster 

youth; 

Whereas the months of September and October mark the 

start of a new school year; and 


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•HRES 733 IH 

Whereas the start of the school year is an opportunity to encourage all students to stay in school at least until graduating from high school: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of increasing the 

3 rate at which foster youth graduate from high 

4 school; 

5 (2) expresses concern that the current high 

6 school graduation rate of foster youth is too low; and 

7 (3) supports efforts to improve the high school 

8 graduation rate of foster youth, including through 

9 increased coordination between child welfare and 

10 educational agencies. 

Æ 


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