Urban Caucus Chair Celebrates Great News on Grad Rates

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) a national leader on issues of educational equity, author of the GEAR UP college access program and Chair of the Congressional Urban Caucus, today heralded an America's Promise report citing increased high school graduation rates.  

"This report reinforces what I've always known: our kids are up to the challenge.  There is no reason we should resign ourselves to abysmal graduation rates, especially in the nation's urban centers.  As a result of dedicated and targeted leadership, we are seeing change in the right direction across the country.  There were 120,000 more graduates in the class of 2008 than the class of 2001.  That's 120,000 Americans with greater earning power, better health outcomes and a significantly reduced likelihood of incarceration.  25 of the 100 largest city school districts had a 10 percentage point or greater increase in promoting power.  That has benefits beyond individuals and families; this is huge news for our nation's urban economies.  There are lessons to be learned in this study, the most of important of which, is that dramatic improvement is possible!"  

The report, "Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic" was released today by America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University.  It shows that the U.S. graduation rate increased from 72 percent in 2002 to 75 percent in 2008 and the number of "dropout factories" fell by 13 percent.  29 states increase their statewide graduation rate in that period, led by Tennessee and New York City, whose graduation rates rose 15 and 10 percent respectively.  

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah