Graduation for All e-Letter

Dropout Rates Still High: It's Time for Bold Action
Welcome to IDRA’s Graduation for All e-Letter. In each monthly edition, we will send you up-to-date information on the dropout issue that you can use to take action in your school and community to strengthen school holding power.

Sigue Alta la Tasa de Deserción Escolar: Es Hora de Tomar Acción Definitiva.
¡Bienvenidos a Graduation for All, un boletín electrónico (e-Letter) de IDRA! En cada boletín mensual, le enviaremos información actualizada que puede utilizar para tomar acción en su escuela y en su comunidad para fortalecer a las escuelas.

To send us a question or comment, please email us at gradforall@idra.org.
Para enviarnos una pregunta o comentario por correo electrónico, use la dirección: gradforall@idra.org.

Sign up today to receive the Graduation for All e-letter.
Para suscribirse, favor de entrar su correo electrónico aquí.

Read current and past issues

Graduation for All – Classroom Culture – January 2010
For the first time in history, children of color now constitute the majority of students enrolled in public schools in the South, according to a new report by the Southern Education Foundation. If educational outcomes are to change, not just at the margins but for new majorities of students in southern states and nationwide, our capacity must improve to serve students of all backgrounds well. This issue spotlights new resources to support your work.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – Communities Leading the Way – December, 2009
You may not be a teacher or superintendent, but still you care about education and have skills to contribute. You are not alone. And with neighbors, friends, organizations or coalitions, you can partner with schools to take action. This edition of Graduation for All (in English and Spanish) offers resources and examples of how people around the country are doing just that.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – October – Annual Attrition Study Findings: Dropout Rates Demand Bold Action
This month, IDRA releases its 2008-09 study of attrition in Texas public schools. The study finds that nearly one in three students in the state is lost to attrition. In Texas and the nation, the hard but undeniable fact is that in 2009, we are losing 1.3 million students a year from school enrollment and graduating only seven in ten high school students on time with a diploma. In this issue of Graduation for All brings you key findings from the study along with resources and recommendations for changing course by: (1) knowing the issue; (2) taking a stand; and (3) adopting a framework for action.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All - September 2009 - School Opening, Hutto Closing
As summer ends and warm days give way to cooler evenings, we have the chance to rededicate ourselves to making sure that all children have access to a high quality education. This fall issue of Graduation for All brings you resources for promoting the rights of all children, including news about children at Hutto Detention Center , professional development podcasts and tips for starting the year off right and supporting first year teachers from the start. We wish you a great new school year.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – August 2009 – Great Expectations
While new research finds that over one in three teachers views dropouts as “a minor problem or no problem at all,” pro-active educators and community leaders are making a difference. This summer (July-August) issue brings you a raft of resources to support this work: from school and state-level strategies in California, to new research on engaging students to podcasts on promoting mathematical thinking and science picks to keep your classroom buzzing.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – June 2009 – Lau vs. Nichols: A Dream Deferred?
Thirty-five years ago in San Francisco , non-English-speaking students of Chinese ancestry fought for the right to equal educational opportunity under the law. In Lau vs. Nichols, our nation has affirmed that children deserve protection from discrimination and access to a meaningful public education. Today, we have the chance to make good on that promise. What we do today can shape the future of the 5 million children who are English learners in our public school system.

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – April 2009 – San Antonio to São Paulo : Dropout Program Serves 116,000
When IDRA created the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program in 1984, we began with a seed grant to work with a handful of San Antonio schools. From these beginnings, the program has grown to serve over 116,000 youth in Brazil , the United Kingdom , the continental United States and Puerto Rico . The program has consistently kept 98 percent of Valued Youth tutors in school. This year marks two milestones: The program’s 10th year anniversary in Brazil and 25th in the United States .
 
Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – March 2009 – National Women’s History Month: Graduation for All Girls 
Many think school dropout rates are a “boys’ crisis.” But on average one in four female students is also lost to attrition. When girls don’t graduate, they face even starker economic hardships than their male counterparts. Women’s History Month is a chance to recognize the accomplishments of women. It is also an opportunity to take stock of where we are in raising graduation rates for girls. This issue of Grad4All is designed to help. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – February 2009 – From the White House to the Schoolhouse” 
As the White House gets ready to infuse public education with a $100+ billion stimulus, state and local action must also continue to take action to raise graduation rates. Visit this issue for examples from Mississippi and Kentucky and a call to action in Texas . 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – January 2009 – “Seven Resolutions”
Happy new year from all of us at IDRA! As we prepare for all that is next, the January issue of Graduation for All brings you an at-a-glance review of key issues we need to tackle in 2009 along with an action agenda for school, community and family partners, and leaders.
 
Also available in Spanish. 

Graduation for All – November 2008 – Focus on Technology 
Where there is technology access and equity, you notice a difference when you first walk into the classroom. Computers aren’t pushed against the wall, cords dangling--and the classroom is a-buzz with energy. Find out how what you can do to make this so at your school. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – October 2008 – “At this rate, we’ll lose generations” 
The results are in. Texas schools are losing one student every four minutes. The state is on track to lose another 4.9 million. This issue of Graduation for All focuses on ways schools, families and communities can strengthen school “holding power” and what you can do to improve student success. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – September 2008 – “I am college material” 
In general, college participation of African American and Latino students is on the rise, but still trails enrollment by White students. This issue focuses on recent findings on college participation and provides resources for educators, family, business and community members poised to make a difference. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – August 2008 – All Students Count 
In Texas , and throughout the nation, holding on to students usually requires transformations systemwide rather than piecemeal programs. This issue of Graduation for All brings you research and resources to support this work.

Graduation for All Released – June 2008 – Youth Call for Action 
1.23 million students of the public high school class of 2008  will not cross the stage with a diploma. Youth are taking action and calling for change. This one-year anniversary issue of Graduation for All is dedicated to their perspective, energy and action – and the ability of caring adults to partner with them. 

Also available in Spanish. 

Graduation for All Released – May 2008 – Count Every Student 
Make Sure Every Student Counts. Are undercounts and a confusing mix of reported dropout and graduation rates keeping people in your school or community from taking decisive action to strengthen school holding power? This issue of Graduation for All offers three tips for taking action.
 
Also available in Spanish: 

Graduation for All – April 2008 – Math Paves Path
Highlights the need for high quality mathematics education for high school graduation, college preparation and access to a better job and gives you tips to make a difference. Also features a new Washington , D.C. , partnership to take on high dropout rates in the district. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – March 2008 – Striving for Equity, Excellence
This issue highlights new research from California on five high schools for equity, a new database for finding out how your school stacks up in terms of equity, and six goals you can adopt to achieve equity, excellence.
 
Also available in Spanish. 

Graduation for All – November 2007
The November issue of Graduation for All highlights new research on education in rural and southern states and cross-race leadership to raise graduation rates.
 
Also available in Spanish:   

Graduation for All – October 2007
One student is lost from Texas public school enrollment every four minutes. The October 2007 issue of Graduation for All (now online in English and Spanish) relates these and other findings from the 2007 IDRA annual attrition study and provides links to IDRA’s School Holding Power Portal and other resources for schools and communities to take action now to turn the tide.
 
Also available in Spanish.  

Graduation for All – September 2007
This back-to-school issue of the e-letter provides some proven ways schools and communities can start the year off right and set a course for graduation for all. In this issue, you’ll find links to a city-wide project examining dropout data to work on this issue; resources for student engagement and school-community partnerships. 

Also available in Spanish.    

Graduation for All – July-August 2007 – Double Issue Released
In this issue: a spotlight on student engagement and new national and state level data to inform your work. 

Also available in Spanish.

Graduation for All – June 2007
In this issue: Community engagement is strengthening schools, what you can do – beyond bake sales and an action toolbox.
 
Also available in Spanish. 

Graduation for All – May 2007 – Dropout Rates Still High: It’s Time for Bold Action 
In this issue: Little Rock leaders craft cross-race agenda for reform, Texans call for action and New Yorkers build networks for change.