| The schools in the United States are | | | | come to school but do nothing while they |
| considered to be "in crisis" due to the | | | | are there, and |
| soaring student dropout rate. In his | | | | • Forced-Out Dropouts - students who |
| first State of the Union Address, | | | | were "counseled out" by school |
| President George W. Bush stated that the | | | | counselors and administrators. |
| national dropout rate was 25 percent. | | | | Phoenix Schools are addressing all three |
| A recent study conducted by the Center | | | | types of dropouts. Their initiatives are |
| for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern | | | | focused on engaging the students, rather |
| University puts the current national | | | | than excluding them. They know that |
| dropout rate at 25 to 30 percent. | | | | programs alone will not change the |
| Additionally, it indicated that males | | | | dropout rate. Only people and |
| have the highest dropout rate of 20 to | | | | relationships can make a difference. |
| 30 percent and are most likely "at risk" | | | | Phoenix schools work with businesses, |
| of not graduating from high school with | | | | community organizations and others to |
| a diploma. | | | | identify and develop effective |
| It is said that when a student drops out | | | | strategies for keeping students in |
| of school, he/she drops into the | | | | school. They are working to improve |
| criminal justice system. In 2002, the | | | | student academic success, believing that |
| U.S. incarcerated its two millionth | | | | the high school renewal initiatives are |
| person. Of those in prison at the time, | | | | directly linked to a decreased dropout |
| 82 percent were high school dropouts. | | | | rate. Phoenix schools are focusing on |
| Dropouts cost our economy billions of | | | | fixing the system, not the student. |
| dollars each year, and not just from the | | | | Every student in the state of Arizona |
| cost of incarceration. They are an | | | | must now pass three tests in order to |
| undereducated work force that retards | | | | graduate high school. The tests measure |
| our economic and social development. | | | | the students' knowledge against required |
| Businesses cannot depend upon a large | | | | state standards. Phoenix schools are |
| portion of graduating students to fill | | | | focusing on the students who do not meet |
| much-needed jobs, which translates to | | | | the state required standards. They are |
| lost government tax revenues. State | | | | tackling their needs by: |
| governments lose money through welfare | | | | • Addressing the students' skill |
| payments, unemployment and crime | | | | gaps through a state-funded tutoring |
| prevention programs. Governments, from | | | | program, |
| the president to the local level, have | | | | • Providing the students with their |
| discovered that if they do not pay for | | | | own tutorial guides, customized to their |
| programs to decrease the dropout rate | | | | individual needs, and |
| now, they will pay much more in the | | | | • Using state-funded tutors, who are |
| future. | | | | qualified to help the students learn the |
| According to the study, the dropout | | | | required skills in order to achieve a |
| rates vary dramatically by location and | | | | passing score on the standardized tests. |
| racial/ethnic background. The state of | | | | Phoenix schools are committed to |
| Arizona was cited in the study as one of | | | | reducing the dropout rate in their |
| the five states with the lowest | | | | schools. Though it is a lengthy and ever |
| graduation rate for 18 year olds. Thus, | | | | changing process, they know the |
| Phoenix Schools, along with the Arizona | | | | importance of their task. Phoenix |
| State Superintendent of Public | | | | schools know they have an obligation to |
| Instruction, Tom Horne, have made | | | | the students and their parents, as well |
| dropout prevention a top priority. | | | | as the businesses and community to |
| There are three types of dropouts: | | | | improve their dropout rates. More |
| • Dropouts - students who stop | | | | skilled and diploma-graduated students |
| coming to school, | | | | mean better-prepared adults and a better |
| • Drop-In Dropouts - students who | | | | Phoenix. |