One of the first steps for anyone wanting to reduce the dropout rate in a community may be to convince others that a dropout problem exists, according to a guide released this month.
The publication, “Grad Nation,” lists some statistics that may help demonstrate the seriousness of the problem. It notes, for example, that nearly a third of public high school students don’t graduate with their class, and that in 2,000 high schools, 40 percent of freshmen typically drop out by their senior year.
The report also features interventions that it says are proven to be successful, such as providing adult advocates for children, individualizing graduation plans, and engaging parents.
The guide was commissioned by America’s Promise Alliance, a collaboration of nonprofit organizations, foundations, corporations, and others that focuses on children and youth.
