Resources
For Students: A Call to Action
- The solution begins with knowing your school district's true, on-time graduation rate. Because inaccurate graduation rates have historically masked the magnitude of the problem, this new knowledge is a wake-up call for many communities.
Accurate accounts of students who dropout and students who successfully complete the coursework requirements are helping communities to marshal concrete steps that can be taken at the local, state and federal levels to ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for college and work. - Learn about the 10-point plan released at the May 9th national "Summit on America's Silent Epidemic." More than 100 organizations that represent a full range of educator and community stakeholders with disparate political stripes support these 10 action steps to reduce dropouts.
- Be an advocate. Push your school system for the help you need to succeed. Ask to be challenged. Show everyone how successful you are.
- Convene a local dropout summit. Highlight the needs facing students in your school by engaging local leaders in a discussion about the challenges young people face and the ways these problems can be addressed.
- Learn about local, state and federal policies that support students' staying in school to prepare for successful futures.
- Visit Think MTV to find out what students are doing to get informed about key issues and take action to improve students' futures.
- Join the Strong American Schools campaign to galvanize the public to demand change and real leadership on education.
