Blue icon of three people, one in graduation cap, beside text: National Dropout Prevention Center.

Category: From the Web

Local educators get “diploma minded” to increase future state graduation rates

FAIRMONT; W.Va (WDTV) Here in the Mountain State, it is believed that one student dropout is too many. Last year 86 percent of students graduated from our schools. Thursday education leaders from all across North Central West Virginia gathered to learn new skills in hopes of raising the graduation rate to 90 percent. The Diploma-Minded Principal event was […]

New Study shows Importance of Early Childhood Education, Family Engagement

“I think a lot of research and a lot of evidence shows that focusing on early childhood is really important if we want to create equal opportunities for kids. I think these studies show that the emphasis over the last decade or two in early childhood that we’ve seen most in public policy, the expansion […]

Let’s focus on students’ strengths rather than risk factors

In the late 80s and early 90s, I led a campus-based program for middle school students at-risk of dropping out of school.  The residential summer program engaged 60 to 70 students in academic classes, work skill development, employment, recreation and service activities. The program was challenging for students, our staff of university students, teachers, counselors […]

Spend less on jailing adolescents and more on educating them

Brian L. Pauling is president and CEO of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., a global nonprofit mentoring organization with more than 100 chapters reaching 125,000 youth in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. “As the school year winds down, one can’t help but think of graduations and where and how students […]

District Addresses Chronic Absenteeism

Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan has reduced their number of chronically absent students over the past few years. How did they do this? Examining their data, creating a culture for success, looking at their school-community partnerships, and family engagement. Read this NPR article for their story.