Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Annual Update, 2012
Author: Balfanz, Robert
Date: 2012-03-00
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: High Schools,Graduation Rate,Dropouts,Dropout Prevention,Elementary Schools,Middle Schools,School Effectiveness,Reading Achievement,Attendance,Educational Improvement,Dropout Programs,College Readiness,Careers,Readiness,Educational Policy,Public Policy,Potential Dropouts,Transitional Programs,Compulsory Education,Mentors,Federal Programs,Accountability

In 2010, the authors shared a Civic Marshall Plan to create a Grad Nation. Through that first report and subsequent update, they saw hopeful signs of progress in boosting high school graduation rates in communities across the country. This 2012 report shows that high school graduation rates continue to improve nationally and across many states and school districts, with 12 states accounting for the majority of new graduates over the last decade. Tennessee and New York continue to lead the nation with double-digit gains in high school graduation rates over the same period. The number of &quot;dropout factory&quot; high schools--and the number of students attending them--has also declined significantly over the last decade, particularly within suburbs and towns and in the South, and at a more accelerated rate within cities in recent years. Other progress on the &quot;Civic Marshall Plan&quot; to build a Grad Nation, including progress in meeting the goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate for the Class of 2020, gives hope that these positive trends can continue. One state has now met the national high school graduation rate goal and another state has nearly done so; improvements are being made against the early benchmarks of the plan; and a significant number of institutions with reach into schools and communities are aligning their efforts with the Civic Marshall Plan's benchmarks. Although some states and school districts show that the dropout crisis can be solved, other states and districts are lagging, with 10 states having lower high school graduation rates recently compared to earlier in the decade. The pace across the country must be accelerated more than three-fold to meet the national goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by the Class of 2020. The strong relationship between education and the economy frames this year's report to reinforce what is at stake in strengthening this nation and preserving access to the American Dream for generations to come. Appended are: (1) Civic Marshall Plan Leading Principles and Action Items; (2) Civic Marshall Plan Cohort Approach; (3) Civic Marshall Plan: Measuring Our Progress; (4) Civic Marshall Plan: Research Recommendations; (5) Graduation Rate Definitions, History, and Related Terms; (6) Civic Marshall Plan State Index--Sample; (7) Graduation Rates, by State; (8) Graduation Rates, by Race; (9) How to Get Involved--What You Can Do to Help Build A Grad Nation; (10) Key Grad Nation Initiatives; and (11) Civic Marshall Plan Leadership. (Contains 8 tables and 145 endnotes.) [For &quot;Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Annual Update, 2010-2011,&quot; see ED517690. For &quot;Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic. Executive Summary. Annual Update, 2012,&quot; see ED530328.]