Strengthening Our Schools, Our Community and Our Future Competitiveness
The high school dropout crisis poses one of the greatest threats to our nation’s economic growth and competitiveness. Each day 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school. More than half of all students who drop out are from the so-called “dropout factories” – the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates above 40 percent. Many of these students come from a struggling middle school. President Obama has challenged Congress and the American people to take action by asking every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or training. This will require addressing our nation’s dropout crisis and dramatically improving graduation rates.
The Graduation for All Act (H.R. 4122) will make a down-payment on our future competitiveness by helping our lowest-performing middle and high schools improve student achievement, increase graduation rates, and promote college enrollment. Specifically, the legislation would:
The high school dropout crisis poses one of the greatest threats to our nation’s economic growth and competitiveness. Each day 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school. More than half of all students who drop out are from the so-called “dropout factories” – the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates above 40 percent. Many of these students come from a struggling middle school. President Obama has challenged Congress and the American people to take action by asking every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or training. This will require addressing our nation’s dropout crisis and dramatically improving graduation rates.
The Graduation for All Act (H.R. 4122) will make a down-payment on our future competitiveness by helping our lowest-performing middle and high schools improve student achievement, increase graduation rates, and promote college enrollment. Specifically, the legislation would:
Turn around schools with the highest dropout rates.
Provide students at risk of dropping out with the tools to stay in school and succeed.
Promote college enrollment and career readiness.
How the bill works:
An eligible district who receives a grant must:
Support for H.R. 4122:
First Focus Campaign for Children:
"First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the Graduation for All Act. The legislation provides a critical focus on supporting the nation’s middle and high school students. While we understand that this is a work in progress, the legislation includes a comprehensive approach to strengthening student achievement from which we can build. We applaud this effort, and look forward to working with Congress to support the success of the nation’s young people."
National Middle School Association:
"National Middle School Association called on policymakers, educators, and business leaders to lead a national effort to transform middle level education and give every young adolescent the opportunity to achieve to the highest standards. The Graduation for All Act is an essential step in meeting that goal. The legislation calls for the bold actions that are needed turn around our lowest performing middle and high schools and make access to quality education for students a reality, not just a promise."
Democrats for Education Reform:
"Democrats for Education Reform congratulates House Democrats for introducing the 'Graduation for All Act.'
"We particularly want to applaud the leadership of Chairman Miller, and key authors of the bill like Representatives Fattah, Hinojosa, Scott, Griijalva, and Davis for bringing together their ideas and working to create an integrated and comprehensive approach to high school reform.
"'This bill draws some very bright lines for intervening in the nation's 'drop-out' factories and, if necessary, shutting them down so that students can attend schools that will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and in the workforce,' said Charles Barone, DFER's Director of Federal Policy. 'We've known for years what the problems are. What the authors of 'Graduation for All' have shown is that they have the political courage to act.'
"'A skilled and educated workforce is absolutely essential to students' futures, and to our nation's economic recovery. We urge Congress to put this bill on the legislative fast track given the dire condition in so many of our nation's high schools which deny millions of students the opportunity to attend college and obtain secure employment that pays a living wage.'"
- Creates a new $2 billion competitive grant program to improve nation’s lowest performing high schools and middle schools.
- Provides school districts with clear guidelines on turn around strategies and encourages flexibility in implementing the appropriate model at the school level.
- Supports partnerships among school districts and their lowest
performing high schools, their feeder middle schools and the local
community to help systemically align best practices in turnaround
strategies.
Provide students at risk of dropping out with the tools to stay in school and succeed.
- Combines rigorous coursework with academic and social support services to encourage students and keep them engaged in school.
- Helps schools implement a data system to allow teachers and other
school staff to identify students at risk of dropping out early on,
based on key indicators such as attendance or failing a core course.
Promote college enrollment and career readiness.
- Prepares students for college by providing them with information about financial aid options, developing graduation and career plans and offering classes on a college campus.
- Allows students to earn up to two years of college credit through
Early College High Schools or dual enrollment programs while still in
high school to increase access to college and employment.
How the bill works:
An eligible district who receives a grant must:
- Identify which schools, middle school and high schools, will be redesigned using evidence-based strategies and materials to provide rigorous, relevant curricula and instruction.
- Conduct a needs analysis of a range of factors including graduation rate, capacity, and at-risk students.
- Choose a Model of Success, as defined in the bill, to help make the most effective and appropriate changes in the school. These models range from transformation to restarting the school as a charter.
- Build a Graduation Improvement Team, including school leaders, teachers, experts and other staff from the school and the community to help carry out the Model of Success.
- Implement Early Warning Data Systems to use academic and behavioral indicators to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, determine which interventions are appropriate, and to monitor the effectiveness of the interventions so that changes can be made as necessary.
- Ensure the principals have autonomy over staffing and budget in their schools.
Support for H.R. 4122:
First Focus Campaign for Children:
"First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the Graduation for All Act. The legislation provides a critical focus on supporting the nation’s middle and high school students. While we understand that this is a work in progress, the legislation includes a comprehensive approach to strengthening student achievement from which we can build. We applaud this effort, and look forward to working with Congress to support the success of the nation’s young people."
National Middle School Association:
"National Middle School Association called on policymakers, educators, and business leaders to lead a national effort to transform middle level education and give every young adolescent the opportunity to achieve to the highest standards. The Graduation for All Act is an essential step in meeting that goal. The legislation calls for the bold actions that are needed turn around our lowest performing middle and high schools and make access to quality education for students a reality, not just a promise."
-- Betty Edwards, Executive Director
Democrats for Education Reform:
"Democrats for Education Reform congratulates House Democrats for introducing the 'Graduation for All Act.'
"We particularly want to applaud the leadership of Chairman Miller, and key authors of the bill like Representatives Fattah, Hinojosa, Scott, Griijalva, and Davis for bringing together their ideas and working to create an integrated and comprehensive approach to high school reform.
"'This bill draws some very bright lines for intervening in the nation's 'drop-out' factories and, if necessary, shutting them down so that students can attend schools that will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and in the workforce,' said Charles Barone, DFER's Director of Federal Policy. 'We've known for years what the problems are. What the authors of 'Graduation for All' have shown is that they have the political courage to act.'
"'A skilled and educated workforce is absolutely essential to students' futures, and to our nation's economic recovery. We urge Congress to put this bill on the legislative fast track given the dire condition in so many of our nation's high schools which deny millions of students the opportunity to attend college and obtain secure employment that pays a living wage.'"
