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