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5 Strengthen School Holding Power from pre-kindergarten to college completion, ensuring that every student is valued, graduates from high school with a diploma, and is prepared for college, work and civic engagement. Imagine > But Currently > What must be done > What we can do together

What must be done…

A more consistent national definition of what constitutes a “school dropout” is needed. Schools need to be more transparent with communities about factors that cause students to leave school early before graduation.

There also needs to be a more seamless system for documenting student’s mobility, particularly for those who move across districts and states. Sustained support systems for transitions from grade to grade are needed to assist students in succeeding at each grade level.

Parents and communities need access to current information that is readily available and understandable regarding school holding power. And schools need the voices of parents and communities to ensure that their input is central to a school’s index of effectiveness. Schools and communities must work together to address systemic factors that lead to students dropping out of school.