President Obama offers solutions aimed at lowering dropout rates
President Barack Obama announced Monday the steps his administration will take to lower dropout rates and increase graduation rates in the country’s middle schools and high schools.
“This is a problem we can’t afford to accept or ignore,” President Obama said in a news release. “The stakes are too high for our children, for our economy, for our country.”
The administration committed $3.5 billion to fund changes to the schools with consistently high dropout rates. Included in the fiscal year 2011 budget is $900 million to support School Turnaround Grants, $50 million to the Graduation Promise Fund and another $100 million to the College Pathways Program.
In order to receive School Turnaround Grants, the school must choose from four reform models: the turnaround model, the restart model, school closure and transformational model.
The turnaround model requires the school district to replace the principle, replace half of the school’s staff, adopt a new governance program and revise or create a new instructional program.
The restart model requires the school district to close and reopen under the management of a charter school operator. These schools must also admit any former student who wants to attend, within the school grades.
If a school decides to choose the school closure option, the district must close the failing school and enroll its students in a higher-achieving school in the district.
In the transformational model, the school must develop teacher and school leader effectiveness, replace the principle, implement instructional reform strategies, extend learning and teacher planning time and provide operating flexibility and sustained support.
The Graduation Promise Fund will support efforts such as individual tutoring and credit recovery programs for students and better use of information to identify and help students at risk of failing.
The College Pathways Program will put its funds to increasing access to college level, dual credit and other accelerated courses in high-need schools.
According to the news release, 1.2 million students drop out of high school and middle school each year, resulting in a loss of $319 billion in potential earnings the United States.
“It is time for all of us, no matter what our backgrounds, to come together and solve this epidemic,” Obama said.