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AT&T Releases 'Raising Their Voices,' a new Study Into Causes and Solutions for the Dropout Crisis
Study highlights perspectives of Baltimore student, researcher
BALTIMORE, April 26 -- With the high school dropout crisis continuing to erode our nation's educational and economic fabric, and take a toll on students from Baltimore and across Maryland, AT&T recently released, "Raising Their Voices: Engaging Students, Teachers, and Parents to Help End the High School Dropout Epidemic," the fourth in a series of ground-breaking studies by Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research that examines the alarming dropout rates through the eyes of dropouts, students, teachers and parents.
While shining a spotlight on the dropout issue, Raising Their Voices offers a number of recommendations on how to confront the problem right here in Baltimore and across Maryland and demonstrates the tremendous value of engaging students, teachers, and parents in candid, face-to-face dialogues on the topic.
Inspired by the report and building upon its own experiences of forging consensus, the National Education Association (NEA), in collaboration with AT&T, announced it is preparing to launch a series of similar dialogues in school districts across the nation to help mobilize local communities to improve graduation rates.
"Our partnership with AT&T is a perfect example of what happens when we work together to make our public schools great," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "In addition to validating and supporting our 12-point dropout prevention plan, Raising Their Voices sheds light on this important issue and demonstrates AT&T's continued commitment to improving public education."
Meanwhile, Raising Their Voices offers not only ideas and hope for the future, but it is a practical resource today for local school districts in Baltimore and across Maryland who want to increase graduation rates. The full report, available at http://civicenterprises.net/pdfs/raisingtheirvoices.pdf includes guidelines that can be used in other communities to facilitate their own action-oriented conversations.
"For all students to graduate ready for college and career, parents and teachers need to support each other and students need to do their part. Too often, though, these three groups end up talking past each other," said Robert Balfanz, co-director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University and research scientist who assisted with this study. "The power of this report is that it shows that structured conversations between the three groups on what it will take to get all students to graduate can serve as a powerful lever of reform."
Crisis Levels
The numbers are staggering. Nearly one-third of all public high school students--and almost one half of minorities--fail to graduate with their class, totaling more than 1.2 million each year.
Raising Their Voices is being released just days after President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan again discussed how low graduation rates are having a profound impact on the nation, while proposing $900 million in grants to turn around the lowest performing high schools.
"The nation's dropout rate is too high. We lose 1.2 million students each year to the streets. That is economically unsustainable and morally unacceptable," said Secretary Duncan. "We need to prepare our students for success in college and careers. Our nation's economic future depends on it. We all have to come together to address this national crisis, with the private sector working with schools to find a solution."
"The Administration's support for private sector programs like AT&T Aspire that aim to prepare our students for their best futures has been a real motivator to all of us," said Randall Stephenson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of AT&T. "Addressing our high school dropout crisis is one of the keys to driving long-term American competitiveness globally."
Before research began for Raising Their Voices in 2009, three earlier research reports focused on the distinct perspectives of high school dropouts (Silent Epidemic, 2006), parents (One Dream, Two Realities, 2007), and teachers (On the Front Lines of Schools, 2009). These studies made it clear that the three constituencies share different and often conflicting views of the causes and cures of dropping out.
To gather additional insight, Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research, on behalf of AT&T and the America's Promise Alliance, assembled students, teachers, and parents from local communities for candid face-to-face dialogues to explore the dropout issue from their unique points of view. Raising Their Voices summarizes those discussions, and includes recommendations, with particular emphasis on making sure students have a better understanding of how classroom activities relate to workplace and life success.
Beyond the 'Blame Game'
"Raising Their Voices is a wake-up call to the nation that teachers, students, and parents have perspectives that are critical to solving the dropout epidemic. By engaging in dialogues, these three vital groups dispel stereotypes, foster a spirit of mutual respect, and provide common solutions that will help keep more students on track to finish high school and attend college," said Civic Enterprises CEO John Bridgeland.
"The act of bringing these individuals together around one table not only shed light on the challenges each group faces, but it elevated their interest in combating the problem. As expected, the discussions varied from city to city, but the findings have broader implications that will serve anyone interested in lifting the graduation rates of their high school students," Bridgeland said.
The new study focused on four public high schools--one each in Indianapolis, Dallas, Baltimore, and Kingsport, Tenn. The groups at each school included approximately 15 participants, with an even mix of students, parents, and teachers. The schools selected offered a diversity of locations and demographics. The groups included students at-risk of dropping out and parents of at-risk students, as well as teachers of at-risk students.
Kolleen Davis, a 10th grader at Baltimore Talent Development High School, said that participating in the dialogue in her community helped change her perspective.
"I learned how other people felt. It wasn't just my opinions (that counted). Now that I had a chance to hear other people's opinions, I have changed my outlook," Davis said, noting that she now realizes the issue is more complex than she had originally believed.
Among the recommendations that emerged from Raising Their Voices were:
-- Candid dialogue among the three constituencies is necessary to move
beyond the "blame game" and to forge a collective will to ensure more
students graduate from high school. Teachers should make more explicit
connections between coursework and the real world and draw on
resources in communities to make these examples tangible.
-- Adult advocates who connect community-based supports to struggling
students should be made available so students can get the help they
need inside and outside of the classroom.
-- Students should be exposed to a rigorous curriculum aligned with
post-secondary standards and other opportunities to develop skills so
every student has the opportunity to prepare for a post-secondary
education, whether it is college, trade school, or other advanced
training. To that end, individual student plans and collaboration
among teachers should be encouraged so all students can meet high
standards.
-- Communications between teachers and parents is essential, and
technological resources should be applied to make these connections as
quickly as possible.
Local Momentum
By taking the lead in organizing and hosting similar dialogues in a group of school districts across the nation, the NEA will continue the momentum to find solutions at the local level.
"The need for community dialogues is the most striking report finding," said Laura Sanford, President of the AT&T Foundation. "We're so pleased that the NEA has taken a leadership role in launching additional dialogues in communities around the country."
"NEA has been a leader in promoting the value of collaboration and discovering ways to tap into the potential of our schools and kids. Their invaluable experience and knowledge is precisely what this initiative needs to succeed and grow," Sanford said.
"The findings from AT&T's Raising Their Voices were enlightening. We are looking forward to using their dialogues as a model for our own, and continuing where this research left off," Van Roekel said.
Van Roekel noted that the NEA has already engaged Ohio teachers, administrators, political leaders, and other stakeholders in successful "transformational dialogues," and that they are pursuing the same initiative in North Carolina. NEA also has an extensive Public Engagement Program that brings together community stakeholders to address achievement gaps, improve student outcomes, and make classroom work relevant through service-learning opportunities for students. The program has proven effective in engaging local stakeholders in these efforts in a number of states including Arkansas, California, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
AT&T Aspire in Maryland
As part of AT&T's* ongoing commitment to investing in Maryland and helping students stay - and succeed - in school and on the job, the company last year announced a $286,816 AT&T Foundation grant to Johns Hopkins University Center for Social Organization of Schools (CSOS) for their continued work at the Baltimore Talent Development High School (BTDHS).
The announcement was made during the Maryland Department of Education/America's Promise Dropout Prevention summit, which included 600 educators and community leaders from throughout Maryland who assembled to discuss strategies for keeping Maryland's students in school. AT&T provided support to America's Promise to coordinate this and other state and local summits across the nation.
The grant to the Johns Hopkins' Center for Social Organization of Schools is part of the AT&T Foundation's signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which helps address high school success and workforce readiness. Competitive grants were awarded to organizations that provide a range of support for students, including academic intervention, academic coaching and mentoring and tutoring services that are focused on improving reading and math skills, reducing truancy and building teen confidence.
Also as part of AT&T Aspire, more than 65 students from North County High School in Glen Burnie, Md., recently "shadowed" AT&T employees during their regular work day to see firsthand the educational background and skills they will need to succeed on the job. The students learned more about AT&T's operations in Hanover - from how the company's wireless networks are built and maintained to how products are marketed to how wireless products are sold in a retail environment.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2009, $155 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.
© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
About Civic Enterprises
Civic Enterprises is a public policy firm that helps corporations, nonprofits, foundations, universities and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies to strengthen our communities and country. Created to enlist the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help address our Nation's toughest problems, Civic Enterprises draws on some of the best minds in the country to fashion new initiatives and strategies that achieve measurable results. We feature a talented team of policymakers, public officials, senior advisors to Presidents and Members of Congress, social scientists, and leaders in the for-profit and nonprofit communities. Our staff has extensive experience serving at the highest levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In tackling your organization's project, we will also call on the vast talents of our company's Policy Council, who are leading experts with broad experience in many public policy areas.
About Hart Research
Hart Research has been one of America's leading public opinion and market research firms for nearly four decades, including two decades as the pollster for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to its long-standing research practice in electoral politics, Hart Research conducts extensive research for 6 major corporations, major foundations (including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), public interest organizations (including the United Negro College Fund and Environmental Defense), and educational institutions (including the College Board and the University of California system). Hart Research's work in education ranges from issue- and policy-oriented projects for advocacy groups and other nonprofit organizations, to image and reputation studies for colleges and universities. In addition to conducting research on such topics as college-preparedness and the cost of inadequate preparation for college, the role of individual colleges and universities within their larger communities, union representation in higher education, and the college application and admissions process, Hart Research was chosen to conduct original research to inform three previous reports on the dropout issue: "The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives on High School Dropouts," "One Dream, Two Realities: Perspectives of Parents on America's High Schools," and "Engaged for Success: Service-Learning as a Tool for High School Dropout Prevention."
About NEA
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Clark, Office, +1-202-828-5065, Wireless,
+1-301-848-0225, jc167s@att.com, for AT&T Inc.
Web Site: http://www.att.com/
http://civicenterprises.net/pdfs/raisingtheirvoices.pdf
AT&T Releases 'Raising Their Voices,' a new Study Into Causes and Solutions for the Dropout Crisis
Study highlights perspectives of Baltimore student, researcher
BALTIMORE, April 26 -- With the high school dropout crisis continuing to erode our nation's educational and economic fabric, and take a toll on students from Baltimore and across Maryland, AT&T recently released, "Raising Their Voices: Engaging Students, Teachers, and Parents to Help End the High School Dropout Epidemic," the fourth in a series of ground-breaking studies by Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research that examines the alarming dropout rates through the eyes of dropouts, students, teachers and parents.
While shining a spotlight on the dropout issue, Raising Their Voices offers a number of recommendations on how to confront the problem right here in Baltimore and across Maryland and demonstrates the tremendous value of engaging students, teachers, and parents in candid, face-to-face dialogues on the topic.
Inspired by the report and building upon its own experiences of forging consensus, the National Education Association (NEA), in collaboration with AT&T, announced it is preparing to launch a series of similar dialogues in school districts across the nation to help mobilize local communities to improve graduation rates.
"Our partnership with AT&T is a perfect example of what happens when we work together to make our public schools great," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "In addition to validating and supporting our 12-point dropout prevention plan, Raising Their Voices sheds light on this important issue and demonstrates AT&T's continued commitment to improving public education."
Meanwhile, Raising Their Voices offers not only ideas and hope for the future, but it is a practical resource today for local school districts in Baltimore and across Maryland who want to increase graduation rates. The full report, available at http://civicenterprises.net/pdfs/raisingtheirvoices.pdf includes guidelines that can be used in other communities to facilitate their own action-oriented conversations.
"For all students to graduate ready for college and career, parents and teachers need to support each other and students need to do their part. Too often, though, these three groups end up talking past each other," said Robert Balfanz, co-director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University and research scientist who assisted with this study. "The power of this report is that it shows that structured conversations between the three groups on what it will take to get all students to graduate can serve as a powerful lever of reform."
Crisis Levels
The numbers are staggering. Nearly one-third of all public high school students--and almost one half of minorities--fail to graduate with their class, totaling more than 1.2 million each year.
Raising Their Voices is being released just days after President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan again discussed how low graduation rates are having a profound impact on the nation, while proposing $900 million in grants to turn around the lowest performing high schools.
"The nation's dropout rate is too high. We lose 1.2 million students each year to the streets. That is economically unsustainable and morally unacceptable," said Secretary Duncan. "We need to prepare our students for success in college and careers. Our nation's economic future depends on it. We all have to come together to address this national crisis, with the private sector working with schools to find a solution."
"The Administration's support for private sector programs like AT&T Aspire that aim to prepare our students for their best futures has been a real motivator to all of us," said Randall Stephenson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of AT&T. "Addressing our high school dropout crisis is one of the keys to driving long-term American competitiveness globally."
Before research began for Raising Their Voices in 2009, three earlier research reports focused on the distinct perspectives of high school dropouts (Silent Epidemic, 2006), parents (One Dream, Two Realities, 2007), and teachers (On the Front Lines of Schools, 2009). These studies made it clear that the three constituencies share different and often conflicting views of the causes and cures of dropping out.
To gather additional insight, Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research, on behalf of AT&T and the America's Promise Alliance, assembled students, teachers, and parents from local communities for candid face-to-face dialogues to explore the dropout issue from their unique points of view. Raising Their Voices summarizes those discussions, and includes recommendations, with particular emphasis on making sure students have a better understanding of how classroom activities relate to workplace and life success.
Beyond the 'Blame Game'
"Raising Their Voices is a wake-up call to the nation that teachers, students, and parents have perspectives that are critical to solving the dropout epidemic. By engaging in dialogues, these three vital groups dispel stereotypes, foster a spirit of mutual respect, and provide common solutions that will help keep more students on track to finish high school and attend college," said Civic Enterprises CEO John Bridgeland.
"The act of bringing these individuals together around one table not only shed light on the challenges each group faces, but it elevated their interest in combating the problem. As expected, the discussions varied from city to city, but the findings have broader implications that will serve anyone interested in lifting the graduation rates of their high school students," Bridgeland said.
The new study focused on four public high schools--one each in Indianapolis, Dallas, Baltimore, and Kingsport, Tenn. The groups at each school included approximately 15 participants, with an even mix of students, parents, and teachers. The schools selected offered a diversity of locations and demographics. The groups included students at-risk of dropping out and parents of at-risk students, as well as teachers of at-risk students.
Kolleen Davis, a 10th grader at Baltimore Talent Development High School, said that participating in the dialogue in her community helped change her perspective.
"I learned how other people felt. It wasn't just my opinions (that counted). Now that I had a chance to hear other people's opinions, I have changed my outlook," Davis said, noting that she now realizes the issue is more complex than she had originally believed.
Among the recommendations that emerged from Raising Their Voices were:
-- Candid dialogue among the three constituencies is necessary to move
beyond the "blame game" and to forge a collective will to ensure more
students graduate from high school. Teachers should make more explicit
connections between coursework and the real world and draw on
resources in communities to make these examples tangible.
-- Adult advocates who connect community-based supports to struggling
students should be made available so students can get the help they
need inside and outside of the classroom.
-- Students should be exposed to a rigorous curriculum aligned with
post-secondary standards and other opportunities to develop skills so
every student has the opportunity to prepare for a post-secondary
education, whether it is college, trade school, or other advanced
training. To that end, individual student plans and collaboration
among teachers should be encouraged so all students can meet high
standards.
-- Communications between teachers and parents is essential, and
technological resources should be applied to make these connections as
quickly as possible.
Local Momentum
By taking the lead in organizing and hosting similar dialogues in a group of school districts across the nation, the NEA will continue the momentum to find solutions at the local level.
"The need for community dialogues is the most striking report finding," said Laura Sanford, President of the AT&T Foundation. "We're so pleased that the NEA has taken a leadership role in launching additional dialogues in communities around the country."
"NEA has been a leader in promoting the value of collaboration and discovering ways to tap into the potential of our schools and kids. Their invaluable experience and knowledge is precisely what this initiative needs to succeed and grow," Sanford said.
"The findings from AT&T's Raising Their Voices were enlightening. We are looking forward to using their dialogues as a model for our own, and continuing where this research left off," Van Roekel said.
Van Roekel noted that the NEA has already engaged Ohio teachers, administrators, political leaders, and other stakeholders in successful "transformational dialogues," and that they are pursuing the same initiative in North Carolina. NEA also has an extensive Public Engagement Program that brings together community stakeholders to address achievement gaps, improve student outcomes, and make classroom work relevant through service-learning opportunities for students. The program has proven effective in engaging local stakeholders in these efforts in a number of states including Arkansas, California, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
AT&T Aspire in Maryland
As part of AT&T's* ongoing commitment to investing in Maryland and helping students stay - and succeed - in school and on the job, the company last year announced a $286,816 AT&T Foundation grant to Johns Hopkins University Center for Social Organization of Schools (CSOS) for their continued work at the Baltimore Talent Development High School (BTDHS).
The announcement was made during the Maryland Department of Education/America's Promise Dropout Prevention summit, which included 600 educators and community leaders from throughout Maryland who assembled to discuss strategies for keeping Maryland's students in school. AT&T provided support to America's Promise to coordinate this and other state and local summits across the nation.
The grant to the Johns Hopkins' Center for Social Organization of Schools is part of the AT&T Foundation's signature initiative, AT&T Aspire, which helps address high school success and workforce readiness. Competitive grants were awarded to organizations that provide a range of support for students, including academic intervention, academic coaching and mentoring and tutoring services that are focused on improving reading and math skills, reducing truancy and building teen confidence.
Also as part of AT&T Aspire, more than 65 students from North County High School in Glen Burnie, Md., recently "shadowed" AT&T employees during their regular work day to see firsthand the educational background and skills they will need to succeed on the job. The students learned more about AT&T's operations in Hanover - from how the company's wireless networks are built and maintained to how products are marketed to how wireless products are sold in a retail environment.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
About Philanthropy at AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and partnerships, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2009, $155 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.
© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
About Civic Enterprises
Civic Enterprises is a public policy firm that helps corporations, nonprofits, foundations, universities and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies to strengthen our communities and country. Created to enlist the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help address our Nation's toughest problems, Civic Enterprises draws on some of the best minds in the country to fashion new initiatives and strategies that achieve measurable results. We feature a talented team of policymakers, public officials, senior advisors to Presidents and Members of Congress, social scientists, and leaders in the for-profit and nonprofit communities. Our staff has extensive experience serving at the highest levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In tackling your organization's project, we will also call on the vast talents of our company's Policy Council, who are leading experts with broad experience in many public policy areas.
About Hart Research
Hart Research has been one of America's leading public opinion and market research firms for nearly four decades, including two decades as the pollster for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to its long-standing research practice in electoral politics, Hart Research conducts extensive research for 6 major corporations, major foundations (including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), public interest organizations (including the United Negro College Fund and Environmental Defense), and educational institutions (including the College Board and the University of California system). Hart Research's work in education ranges from issue- and policy-oriented projects for advocacy groups and other nonprofit organizations, to image and reputation studies for colleges and universities. In addition to conducting research on such topics as college-preparedness and the cost of inadequate preparation for college, the role of individual colleges and universities within their larger communities, union representation in higher education, and the college application and admissions process, Hart Research was chosen to conduct original research to inform three previous reports on the dropout issue: "The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives on High School Dropouts," "One Dream, Two Realities: Perspectives of Parents on America's High Schools," and "Engaged for Success: Service-Learning as a Tool for High School Dropout Prevention."
About NEA
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Clark, Office, +1-202-828-5065, Wireless,
+1-301-848-0225, jc167s@att.com, for AT&T Inc.
Web Site: http://www.att.com/
http://civicenterprises.net/pdfs/raisingtheirvoices.pdf