Attend the Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit on Oct. 20
We Are All In This Together: Sharing the Vision of High School Graduation for All Students
Join us for the Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit on Oct. 20 in Lansing. Educators, parents, students and community activists from across the state will be gathering to learn more about the dropout crisis, why graduating more students from high school is critical for every part of our society and economy, and how we can work together locally to keep students in school.
Community action is the hallmark of this summit, calling on a huge variety of attendees – from both in and out of school – to help more students graduate from high school. Together we can reduce Michigan’s 15 percent dropout rate, helping 21,000 youth per year realize a brighter future.
The Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit will be held October 20, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. You can attend the summit as an individual for $60 or come as a member of a community team of up to 10 for only $35 (attendees under 19 are $10).
Attendees are also invited to attend a special pre-summit briefing on the findings from the “Dropouts: One is Too Many” coalition’s statewide series of hearings about the dropout crisis.
Visit www.midropoutsummit.org for more information about the summit, how to register yourself or a community team, and why it’s so critical that our communities come together to ensure more students graduate from high school.
Testify in-person or online
It is critical that we hear from as many people as possible to assess the full scope of the dropout crisis and gather ideas for solutions. We hope you can testify in person at one of the 10 hearings being hosted across the state.
If you can't attend in person, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts via our online testimony input form. Share your experiences about why you or your child dropped out. Or tell us your success stories or what works to keep more students in school until graduation.
We’ll share the testimony we collect — whether its gathered online or in-person — with Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Legislature to assist in the development of sound education policy.
Press Releases
New dropout stats help identify problem—now it’s time for solutions
CEPI Four-Year Cohort Graduation and Dropout Reports
Dropout crisis discussion at NEA RA echoes sentiments at Michigan hearings
Recent MEA-sponsored hearings about the dropout crisis are far from the only effort going on in the United States to graduate more students from high school. On Wednesday, more than 500 NEA Representative Assembly delegates gathered to hear from national experts on the issue and share their thoughts and concerns as they experience this crisis from the front lines. Read more.
From the MEA Voice
Dropouts: One is too many
On the Cover:
James Alexander dropped out of high school twice before graduating in 2007. Now, the 21-year-old
is in college, studying to be a teacher. “I always thought I was going to be an NBA player,” says Alexander, who
admits he didn’t have a backup plan until he was older and encouraged by his own teachers to help students at risk
of dropping out. “All my teachers let me know that I was a good teacher,” he says.
Read more about the Dropout Crisis in the MEA Voice click here.
Study: Dropout Rates Fueling Violent Crime in MI
Public News Service - August 21, 2008
Lansing, MI – Michigan law enforcement leaders and anti-crime advocates have released a study showing that better graduation rates will cut the state crime rate substantially. Comments from Brian Mackie, Washtenaw County Prosecutor and co-chair, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan. Read more.
MEA: New dropout stats help identify problem—now it’s time for solutions
Today’s release of new, standardized statistics about Michigan dropout rates helps point out where and to what extent our state’s high schools come up short in graduating students. But identification is only half the battle. Read more.
Aimless students more likely to drop out, lack employment, survey confirms
One out of five young adults lack job or career goals, leading to increased dropout and jobless rates, according to a new survey. Read more.
Public encouraged to provide virtual testimony on the dropout crisis
Members of the general public are invited to provide virtual testimony about Michigan’s dropout crisis, part of a statewide initiative to help more young adults stay in school until graduation. Read more.
New graduation requirements criticized as unrealistic for all students at May 15 dropout crisis hearing
Michigan's new core curriculum requiring four years of math and four years of science to graduate from high school is setting up some students to fail, according to testimony at the May 15 public hearing on the dropout crisis. This one-size-fits-all curriculum approach won't fit every student — a student who wants to become a graphic artist may not see the relevance in taking advanced math. Read more about the first two hearings.
Michigan dropout crisis costs $2. 5 billion annually — Solutions sought to raise graduation rates
Finding ways to fix Michigan’s dropout crisis is the focus of public hearings beginning May 8, part of a statewide initiative to increase the number of high school graduates to stabilize a weak economy.
By some estimates, about 20,000 Michigan students drop out of school every year. According to Columbia University’s prestigious Teachers College, boosting high school graduation rates would save $127,000 per new graduate through extra tax revenues, reduced costs of public health, crime and justice, and decreased welfare payments. Every year that passes without a solution to the dropout crisis drains another $2.5 billion from local, state and national coffers. Read more.
Media coverage
The Michigan Business Beat: Government Affairs Director Ed Sarpolus talks about the dropout crisis and how it affects small business and unemployment
Lansing State Journal: Dropout rate fuels statewide forums
The Big Show: Michael Patrick Shiels’ radio interview with MEA Government Affairs Director Ed Sarpolus
Detroit News: Solutions to state's dropout crisis sought
Detroit News editorial: Better guidance will prevent students from dropping out
MEA President Salters in Detroit News: Raise bar but keep it relevant
MEA President Salters' Detroit Free Press op-ed: Michigan must save students who drop out
Macomb Daily: Educators put new focus on high school dropouts
Inside Michigan Education podcast: Interview with Doug Pratt of the MEA on the Public Hearings "Dropouts: One is Too Many"
WILS (Lansing, Mich.): MEA Director of Communications Doug Pratt talks with Walt Sorg about the dropout crisis
Grand Rapids Press: Educators target high dropout rates statewide
Gongwer Report: MEA plans hearings on dropout solutions
Public News Service: Public Hearings Aim to Drop the School Dropout Rate
MEA President Salters' Detroit News column: Michigan must confront dropout epidemic
Partner organizations:
- Michigan Education Association (MEA)
- Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA)
- Kent Intermediate School District
- Michigan’s Children
- Michigan’s Charter Schools
- Michigan’s Promise
- Michigan Future, Inc.
Mission:
To conduct hearings gathering input on how to stem the dropout crisis and present those findings to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Legislature to assist in the development of sound education policy.