This is also why we have focused at Operation HOPE, with the 5MK (5 MILLION KIDS) movement, our Make Smart Sexy Tour which begins in 2011, and our Gallup-HOPE Financial Literacy Index, on LAUSD and Oakland Public Schools as tier-one priorities for improvements and excellence starting in 2011. This is also why I and we at Operation HOPE are focused on working closely with LAUSD leadership inclusive of Superintendent Ramon Cortines, Deputy Superintendent John Deasy and Dr. Sharon Robinson, and Oakland Schools leadership including Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith and Deputy Superintendent Ms. Maria Santos.
Read below and don't just fret, but see how you can help. A couple options are for you to make a (non-financial is fine) leadership pledge for your organization, company or yourself at www.5mk.org, or email Jonathan McCoy to see how you can help.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010 (SF Chronicle)
Dropout rate for Calif. black students hits 37%
Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer
More than a third of California's African American public high school
students dropped out before graduation day, a startling number and one
that's on the rise, according to 2009 data released Tuesday.
The 37 percent African American dropout rate, up three percentage points
from the prior year, was far above that of any other ethnic subgroup.
Hispanic students had the second highest rate at 27 percent.
Locally, San Francisco cautiously celebrated a 9 percent overall dropout
rate, a stark contrast to Oakland's 40 percent, numbers still under review
for accuracy.
The statewide statistics highlight a pervasive achievement gap in test
scores and graduation rates that persists despite focused efforts to boost
the academic performance of black, Hispanic and low-income students, state
education officials said.
Overall, 22 percent of state students dropped out of high school,
according to the new data, up from 19 percent the year before.
The numbers are more than a year old. They were released several months
later than usual because of problems ramping up a new system that can
follow individual students' progress in California public schools, even if
they move, said state schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell.
"We now have a data system that allows us to track students more
accurately and have honest conversations about how to improve graduation
rates and reduce dropouts among all subgroups of students," O'Connell
said.
O'Connell blamed the increase on state budget cuts, which have resulted in
larger class sizes, fewer art and music classes, cuts to sports, fewer
counselors and less access to career/technical courses – all programs that
can help keep struggling or at-risk students in school.
In addition, drastic cuts to summer school have prevented students from
catching up on credits during the break, meaning they can't graduate on
time and too often give up.
"Clearly the dropout rates in California are too high, unacceptable and
absolutely must be addressed," O'Connell said. Some good news
The higher dropout rate was the bad news Tuesday, but there was also good
news – the state's graduation rate is also up, O'Connell said.
While that might sound contradictory, the two statistics aren't completely
interconnected, given a fluctuating third group of students, which
includes those who move out of state, die, go to jail or take the GED test
before graduating.
In 2009, 70.1 percent of those who started high school in the state
graduated, up from 68.5 percent the year before. Hispanic students saw the
biggest gain in diplomas, with 60 percent graduating, a nearly
five-percentage-point increase.
While O'Connell said the state dropout and graduation numbers are
reliable, localized data are still under review for accuracy at the
district level, given the new system. High Oakland rate
In Oakland, for example, the dropout rate hit a whopping 40 percent in
2009, a number that has fluctuated wildly the past few years, up from 28
percent in 2008 and 36 percent in 2007.
While there is concern about the fluctuations, "these numbers are a little
bit closer to what we've been hearing anecdotally," said Troy Flint, a
district spokesman. "The percentage is not as important as realizing this
is probably the most critical problem facing the district."
The district is focusing on internship programs and coursework that meets
student interests, as well as offering the core curriculum, Flint said.
"We're trying to be more creative about making it more interesting for
kids," he said. San Francisco's trend
In San Francisco, district officials were pleased with a 9 percent dropout
rate, down from 18 percent the year before, and 20 percent in 2007.
Even if the exact numbers are off a bit, the trend seems clear, said
Gentle Blythe, district spokeswoman.
"It shows that the work we've been doing over the last few years to
decrease truancy and increase (daily) attendance has had an effect on
these numbers," she said.
The district has a partnership with the district attorney's office to
compel attendance, as well as online courses and limited summer school
specifically for students behind in credits.
"We know that being in school on a regular basis is a precursor to school
success," Blythe said. "The more school students miss, the more likely
they are to drop out and become discouraged."
E-mail Jill Tucker at jtucker@sfchronicle.com. ———————————————————————-
Copyright 2010 SF Chronicle