Texas Public School Attrition Study, 2005-06, Released by IDRA
Race-Ethnicity Gap Among Texas Dropouts Continues to Grow

October 4, 2006 – Advance Release for Publishing on October 5, 2006

News Facts

• The Intercultural Development Research Association released detailed findings today from its latest study showing that the Texas high school attrition rate is 35 percent.
• In 2005-06, Texas schools lost 35 percent of their students, compared to 33 percent in IDRA’s inaugural study in 1985-86.
• In Texas for 2005-06, 47 percent of Hispanic students, 40 percent of Black students, and 21 percent of White students were lost from public school enrollment.
• The attrition rate gaps between White students and Black students and between White students and Hispanic students is actually growing.
• Since the first IDRA study in 1985-86…

Attrition rates for White students have improved (22 percent decrease).
Attrition rates for Asian/Pacific Islander students have improved (48 percent decrease).
Attrition rates for Native American students have improved (13 percent decrease).
Attrition rates for Hispanic students have worsened (4 percent increase).
Attrition rates for African American students have worsened (18 percent increase).

• Since IDRA’s first study, more than 2.5 million students have been lost from public schools.
• This loss has cost the state of Texas $730.1 billion in foregone income, lost tax revenues, and increased job training, welfare, unemployment and criminal justice costs.

Quotes

Attributed to Dr. María “Cuca" Robledo Montecel:

• “Not too long ago, it seemed unreasonable to think that this country would have universal education through elementary school. It is now time that we make high school graduation the new minimum. The economics of undereducation demand it. Our children deserve no less.”
• “Since 1986, Texas has lost almost 2.5 million students from our high schools. This is like losing Austin, Dallas and El Paso over the course of two decades.”
• “To graduate students who are prepared for later life, IDRA research indicates that schools must have: (1) competent caring teachers who are paid well and supported in their work, (2) consistent ways to partner with parents and engage the local communities to whom they account, (3) ways to really know students and have students know that they belong and (4) high quality, enriched and accessible curriculum.”
• “The bottom line is: schools are responsible for the education of children – for all children, be they Black, Brown, White, poor, rich, female, male, disabled, non-disabled, English-speaking or not.“
• “Students are far more likely to succeed and graduate when they have the chance to work with highly qualified, committed teachers, using effective, accessible curricula, when their parents and communities are engaged in their schools, and when they themselves feel engaged. We know that this becomes possible when schools and school policy reflects good governance and the funding to provide excellent education for all students. To strengthen holding power, then, is to undertake actions that strengthen – not discrete areas – but schools as systems.”

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , at IDRA to arrange an interview and/or for additional quotes.

Dr. María "Cuca" Robledo Montecel will be in Houston on October 6 to deliver a keynote presentation at the “Texas Dropout Crisis and Our Children” conference sponsored by Rice University and the Harvard Civil Rights Project. She will be available onsite for interviews as well.

Multimedia

Download: Word document, traditional press release
Download: PDF file, traditional press release

About IDRA

The Intercultural Development Research Association (www.idra.org) is an independent, private non-profit organization, directed by María Robledo Montecel, Ph.D., dedicated to creating schools that work for all children. We are deeply concerned with the education and well-being of all children and youth – particularly those who are poor, minority or limited-English-proficient.

We work hand-in-hand with schools, families, and communities to ensure that all students succeed in school and graduate. And IDRA conducts ground-breaking research to inform school improvement.

Contact Information

Christie L. Goodman, APR
Phone 210-444-1710, ext. 1705
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web site

Related Links

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http://www.idra.org/component/option,com_facileforms/Itemid,496/.

Latest attrition study online: “Texas Public School Attrition Study, 2005-06: Gap Continues to Grow.” Includes data tables.
http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletters/October_2006_School_Holding_Power/Texas_Public_School_Attrition_Study_2005-06/

Graph of high school attrition by county over the last 10 years. Includes numbers of students lost.
http://www.idra.org/wrapper/

Quick overview of the issue of school dropouts and what is important to know when covering the issue: “From ‘Dropping Out’ to ‘Holding On’ – Seven Lessons from Texas.“
Html: http://www.idra.org/Press_Room/Recent_Speeches_and_Testimony/From_Dropping_Out_to_Holding_On/

Pdf: http://www.idra.org/images/stories/7lessons.pdf

Short bio and photo for Dr. María "Cuca" Robledo Montecel
http://www.idra.org/Press_Room/Reporter_Resources/About_IDRAs_Executive_Director/

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