You can hardly pick up a paper today without reading an article about the startling drop out rates of youth from high schools across the country – this epidemic is nationwide and is not just in big cities, but also small town America.
To quote a recent article on the ABC News website, “It is estimated that 2,500 students drop out of U.S. high schools every day.” And the percentages(50% of students in the largest school systems across the country, and as reported by the Department of Education, 31% of American students are not completing school in the largest school districts)
As a teacher myself, who works with other teachers across the country, these dramatic numbers are a cold reality – motivation to complete high school ideally starts at home and is supported by the classroom. Unfortunately, poverty, ill equipped classrooms, a significant decline in communication between schools and parents, language disparity and a long list of other factors are contributing to this wide spread epidemic.
I was recently introduced to Robert Morris, founder of the Center for Diversity, www.Center4Diversity.com, and the organization Tailwinds, an innovative partnership propelling students and parents to literacy, English language proficiency, and productive citizenship.
I’d like to share some information about this program with all of you because I think it has such value and directly addresses a major reason for the steady increase in drop-rate rates across the U.S.:
“Tailwinds! is an innovative public-private partnership formed to support schools in meeting the literacy and English acquisition needs of school-age children and parents from low/non-English speaking households. The program targets communities with concentrations of migrants and immigrants of Latino, Hispanic, or Mexican descent. At the same time, Tailwinds! is designed for all who have difficulty meeting basic or proficient academic standards, including students with disabilities.
Simply stated, the goals of Tailwinds! are to:
1) positively and substantially impact English reading, writing, listening, and speaking proficiency of target student groups and their parents;
2) significantly contribute to target schools making AYP as required by NCLB;
3) significantly improve students’ attendance and involvement in school – lowering high school drop out and raising high school graduation rates; and
4) notably increase effective integration of low/non-English speaking parents in their local English speaking communities and in turn the United States”
Robert provided me with some additional startling statistics – “40% of high school students in their freshmen year of high school drop out.
Approximately 22% of the total student population is functionally illiterate.
If our children are our future, what kind of future will we have with a significant portion of them having less than a high school education? This is an education issue, a leadership issue, a labor and work preparation and readiness issue, an economic issue, and a diversity and inclusion issue.”
Technology is an important aspect of Tailwinds, addressing the needs of students (and their parents) with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles, so that they can succeed in the classroom and ultimately in life.
To learn more baout the Center 4 Diversity take a look at their website: www.Center4Diversity.com
