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President Barack Obama speaks on the administration's effort to improve the nation's schools during an America's Promise Alliance event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
On Monday, President Barack Obama pledged $900 million to address America’s “dropout crisis,” saying that one-third of America’s high school students drop out every year, with half of the students being black or Latino.
Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president said, “For America to compete and win in the 21st century, we know we will need a highly educated workforce." He added that in today’s “knowledge economy,” it is more imperative than ever for students to earn high school diplomas.
He cited that 12 percent of schools across the nation account for approximately 50 percent of student dropouts. The $900 million will go to the 5,000 lowest performing schools in each state. Schools will only receive money if they comply with government improvement strategies.
Obama gave top down strategies to increase graduation rates in failing schools. Strategies include replacing school principals and training teachers with more effective teaching techniques.
The president also called for the temporary closure of failing schools and reopening them under new management, or closing the school entirely, sending students to more successful schools.
As a last resort, Obama called for the replacement of the "school's principal and at least half its staff.”
For dropouts from successful schools, the president, cited a study, which found that lack of interest in school is the primary reason given by students who don’t finish high school.
Government will also invest in accelerated learning programs, programs that offer individualized attention for at risk students, as well as alternative and early college high school options—some of which would offer college level courses to high school students.
But he emphasized that education “cannot be the task of government alone,” and requires every sector of society, from businesses to students to play an active role.
Dr. Drumm McNaughton, president of the Change Leader Inc., a management consulting firm that focuses on education organization, says he sees a lot of promise in Obama’s approach to education reform.
He said, “We have to get away from the point where we are measuring processes and start measuring results.”
McNaughton affirmed that there is no silver bullet to education reform, “It requires people coming to the table to work on it at a district level, [and] at a national level.”
In the long term, he said that “everyone has to be prepared to sacrifice" or face consequences.
The event was hosted by America’s Promise Alliance, which is a network that provides volunteers for children and youth. The APA's Chair Alma Powell announced the Alliance’s 10-year Grad Nation Campaign, which aims for 90 percent on time graduation for 2010 fourth graders.
