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A Vision for Boston: | |
Day 4: School Dropouts
Student truancy and dropout rates remain a significant problem in Boston. Considering the financial constraints the City will face over the next few years, what would you propose to ensure that all students attend school regularly, and graduate from high school? How would you fund these programs? Response from Mayor Menino:Superintendent Carol Johnson has made "graduation for all" the district’s top priority, with exciting programs to ensure that every student is prepared for college and career success. We commissioned a comprehensive study of the dropout challenge, which provided compelling data about risk factors. Guided by that report, our systematic approach is reducing the dropout rate, targeting new programs to key populations: › Students who are just one or two courses from graduation are more likely to drop out than enroll in another year of school. Credit recovery programs are helping those students complete their classes and graduate in their senior year. Since 2008, more than 400 students — most of them potential dropouts — earned diplomas through this program. › High school students arriving in the U.S. knowing little English are significantly more likely to drop out. Newcomers Academy provides these students with a transition program, preparing them socially and academically for high school while developing English skills. › We’re reaching out to students who have dropped out to bring them back to school. The Re-Engagement Center helps former dropouts and chronically truant students make a successful re-entry through tutoring, counseling and other services, putting them back on track to graduation.
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