Facilitator ToolkitPrepared by

America’s Promise Alliance

Guide to Driving Action in Your Community:The Grad Nation Facilitator Toolkit on Waiting for “Superman”Prepared by America’s Promise Alliance

This discussion guide is a tool to help engage your community in conversation about the local education system and how individuals can make a difference. We believe the dialogue surrounding the documentary Waiting for “Superman” can serve as a catalyst for a movement on behalf of our young people, providing them access to more opportunities for an excellent education. Agreeing to host a screening and discussion will enable you to both leverage and advance the work you do — whether that means re-energizing your current team, engaging additional partners, finding funders or recruiting volunteers. By using this guide, you have the opportunity to raise awareness about your work and recruit additional stakeholders to help you change the trajectory for many young people in your community.

OverviewWaiting for “Superman” examines the crisis of public education in the United States through multiple interlock-ing stories about the students whose futures hang in the balance, their families and the educators and reformers trying to find lasting solutions within a broken education system. Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) reminds us that education statistics have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of the film. As he follows these promising students through a system that can inhibit, rather than encourage, academic growth, Guggenheim surveys dropout factories and academic sinkholes, methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. However, embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools, Guggenheim offers hope by exploring innovative approaches taken by education reformers and schools that have — by reshaping the culture — refused to leave their students behind.

America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) recently launched the Grad Nation campaign to mobilize Americans to end the dropout crisis and ensure that high school graduates are prepared for college and 21st century careers. The Alliance believes Waiting for “Superman,” and the crucial dialogue it generates, have tremendous potential to spur action in communities throughout the country and to help achieve the Grad Nation goal.

Today, we face a dropout crisis of sobering proportions. One of every three students fails to graduate from high school: 1.3 million students each year. In effect, we lose an entire graduating class every three years. Our education system currently ranks 18th in the world among developed countries.1 This is unacceptable.

Failing to graduate high school dramatically limits a young person’s future and potential. Young people who drop out of school are twice as likely as graduates to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty, eight times more likely to wind up in prison, and twice as likely to become the parent of a child who drops out.2

High school graduates on average earn $10,000 more each year than those who drop out. College graduates on average annually earn twice as much as high school graduates — and 300% more than those who drop out of school.Nationwide, the impact on our communities is staggering:

By 2020, minorities will become the majority in •America. Just over 50 percent of African American and Hispanic students (and less than half of Native American students) complete high school on time.If the 1.2 million high school dropouts from the •Class of 2008 had earned their diplomas instead of dropping out, the U.S. economy would have seen an additional $319 billion in wages over these students’ lifetimes.3 A ten percent increase in the male graduation rate •would reduce murder and assault arrest rates by about 20 percent, motor vehicle theft by 13 percent, and arson by 8 percent.4

1 UNICEF Study of student performance in literacy, math, and science (Innocenti Report Card Issue No.4, UNICEF, November 2002.)2 Alliance for Excellent Education3 Alliance for Excellent Education4 Moretti, E. (October 2005). Does education reduce participation in criminal activities? Research presented at the 2005 Symposium on the Social Costs of Inadequate Education. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Education reform is central to changing outcomes for young people. But education reform must be supported by efforts to provide young people with the holistic supports they need to thrive. These supports must come from engaged individuals, organizations and the broader community to complement and reinforce the work of educators.

Though the statistics are bleak, we know this is a solvable problem. Through Grad Nation, we will turn awareness of the high school dropout crisis into ac-tion. Through focused and collaborative work, we will mobilize our national partners and their local affili-ates in thousands of communities to create powerful, cross-sector solutions. This task belongs to all of us — businesses, non-profits, governors and mayors, parents and young people. The time is now to come together to close the achievement gap, end the high school dropout crisis and prioritize college completion.

The State of Our Schools

Whether you host a few key stakeholders at a private screening or buy-out a theater to lead a community-wide conversation, you will make a difference by starting a dialogue about a critical issue none of us can afford to ignore. The high school dropout crisis impacts everyone, but together we can increase gradu-ation rates. The first step is using this guide to host a discussion. Outlined on the following pages are some tips to help you plan your event.

Facilitator PreparationPreview the film.• As the discussion leader, the fa-cilitator should be well acquainted with the images, stories, and information used in the film. Make sure to watch the credits at the end of the film, that include suggestions for how to get involved.

Spend time in the • Grad Nation section of www.americaspromise.org and review the page which highlights ways for people to take action.

Gather your thoughts.• Create a list of the film’s main points for a post-viewing discussion. These points might include, among others:

The state of public education — nationally and -in your community The importance of great teachers -The vital role of parent engagement -The innovations and best practices taking -shape in our nation’s and your community’s best schools

Find a theater and show time near you.• Visit www.waitingforsuperman.com for release dates and www.moviefone.com for local listings. To purchase sever-al tickets or buy out a theater, visit www.waitingfor-superman.com/groupsales and complete the Group Sales form, or contact Stacey Leinson at Participant Media sleinson@participantmedia.com.

Choose a location for your post-movie conversa-•tion. Find a quiet place where an open discus-sion can be held and where your full group can be comfortably accommodated — a private home, community center, place of business, town hall, park district facility or public library. Ideally, the conversation will take place in close proximity of the theater and happen as soon as possible after your group has viewed the film. Plan for the discussion to last 60–90 minutes.

Invite your group members.• Send information about the movie and conversation date and location in advance. Consider inviting a representa-tive from the following groups for the richest possible conversation — remember that some people play multiple roles:

Youth -Parents -Elected officials -Board members -Funders -Teachers -Corporate leaders -Educators -Local education reporters -

Review the discussion points suggested below.• Decide which points to use and in what sequence. Consider both the time available and the character of your group.

Be ready to actively manage the conversation.• The discussion is being held for the benefit of the whole group, but a few people can keep others from benefiting from the experience. You may need to be gentle but assertive in keeping one person or perspective from being overwhelming.

How to Start the Conversation

Five Promises The work of the Alliance has always centered

on mobilizing America to deliver the resources

that all children need — the building blocks of

success. We call them the Five Promises:

Caring adults• such as parents, teachers,

mentors, coaches and neighbors

Safe places• that offer constructive

activities when young people are not

in school

A healthy start• and healthy development

An effective education• that prepares

young people for college and work

Opportunities to help others•

through service

The research brief Every Child, Every Promise,

found that children receiving four of the Five

Promises are far more likely to be success-

ful, twice as likely to get “A”s, twice as likely

to avoid violence and 40 percent more likely

to volunteer. Moreover, the research showed

that receiving four out of five of these basic

resources has the potential to level the

playing field for youth across racial and

economic lines.

Provide your group a brief introduction.• Refer to the section “The State of Our Schools” for national information. To find your local graduation rates and other education statistics, visit your school district’s website, www.all4ed.org and www.edweek.org/apps/maps.

Suggest that the group think about the following •issues while viewing the film. Select no more than three topics for discussion:

How can we collaborate towards better outcomes -for our young people?How does and can our organizations’ work help -increase local graduation rates?What are some political and systemic barriers -to progress? What can we do about them?What are some successful education innovations -that provide hope?What might I do — as an individual or through -my organization — about this crisis?

Gather items to facilitate your discussion.• Be sure that there is chart paper or a white board in the room to take notes for the discussion. If you’d like to share information about some volunteer or other opportunities, have enough copies of brochures or other literature for your organization. Also, extra pens, and a way to take notes and record outcomes will be helpful.

Distribute index cards to the group.• As you gather for the screening, ask viewers to write thoughts, feelings, and questions that come to mind while they watch the film. Let them know that the cards are for their use to help them remember what they were thinking during the film and any thoughts they had during the discussion.

Before Your Event

Questions and topics for discussion are grouped into three categories in this guide: sharing emotions, building understanding and planning for action. It is important to touch on each of these because each part of the discussion will help your participants build a strong and lasting commitment to the issue. Begin your discussion with emotional content and end with options for getting involved.

Sharing Emotions (10-20 minutes)

Begin by encouraging participants to thoughtfully reflect on their emotional reaction to the film. By supplementing a passive viewing with active dialogue, your group members become participants in the film’s meaning and significance.

What in the film — a story, a fact, an image — •triggered a strong reaction for you? What feelings did it evoke?It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the magni-•tude of the high school dropout crisis. Where do you find hope that allows you to face this problem?Waiting for “• Superman” contains a lot of informa-tion. What was your overall feeling at the end of the film, or as you think back to the full effect? How does that feeling shape what you want to do next?Was there anything in the film you feel was not •portrayed adequately or fairly?

Building Understanding (15-25 minutes)

As the discussion of emotional reactions winds down, shift the focus of the group more specifically to the is-sues raised and information highlighted in the film. As participants share, record key issues on chart paper.

What did you learn from watching the film that •you didn’t know before?What information in the film made the high school •dropout crisis more real to you? Which issues reso-nated most with you? Which will you further in-vestigate? Encourage members of the group to share one item that they wrote on their index card while watching Waiting for “Superman.” Use responses as prompts for further dialogue.How is this crisis taking shape in our community? •What efforts are already underway to address it in our area?How does delivery of student support outside of the •classroom connect with the film?

During Your Event

Finding Solutions (35-45 minutes)

Finish the discussion by f leshing out specific, action-able steps for getting involved. Elicit other ideas from participants and draw from the “How to Get Involved” section of this guide. Record ideas on chart paper.

TIP: When you text “POSSIBLE” to 77177, you can obtain your local high school dropout statistics and join the Waiting for “Superman” mobile network.

What are the best ways to take action on behalf of •our community’s children?Who else should see this film? What difference •would it make if you could get that person to see and discuss the movie?How can we focus our efforts and address •this crisis?How are you as an individual going to get involved? •How can we raise awareness about solutions to •this crisis?

The www.waitingforsuperman.com/action website offers specific recommendations and immediate actions that can be taken including the following:

Sending letters to governors and candidates to •urge adoption and implementation of the Common Core StandardsUrging school board officials to support teachers •by providing training, mentoring, recognition and rewardsUrging policymakers at the state and federal level to •ensure school choice

Make a clear plan for next steps, which may include a follow-up meeting to discuss progress on action plans, working with another organization or group, or research and sharing of additional information.

To conclude the discussion, point participants to additional resources at the end of this guide, which include information about how to get involved, a list of the Alliance’s partner organizations and ways to learn more.

Grad NatioN Grad Nation is a national movement to

transform awareness of the dropout crisis

into sustained, results-driven action. It’s a call

to action for concerned citizens, businesses,

community leaders, policy makers, educators

and the nation. With leadership and focus,

this is a solvable problem. The Grad Nation

goal is to mobilize the nation to end the high

school dropout crisis and ensure that young

people are prepared for college and 21st

century careers.

As we advance toward our overall Grad

Nation goal, we will also gauge our progress

along the way. In consultation with the U.S.

Department of Education, we will track a num-

ber of highly reliable indicators that influence

graduation rates:

Preschool enrollment•

Fourth-grade reading scores•

Eighth-grade math and science scores•

Youth service participation•

Out-of-school time participation•

Healthcare access•

Promotion from ninth to tenth grade•

Adoption of common core standards for •

college and career readiness

High school graduation•

Post-secondary education•

There are other metrics such as attendance,

behavior and course performance, that are not

tracked nationally, but that are critical to track

and improve upon at the local level.

Please share your experience with America’s Promise Alliance by sending your thoughts, outcomes and any feedback to this guide via email to apaweb@ americaspromise.org as soon as your discussion has taken place. The information you send will be helpful as the Alliance continues to raise awareness and will allow us to share promising practices and spur more dialogue on this important issue. Knowing how your conversations went and what you plan to do next also will help us connect you with additional resources and experts.

After Your Event

The Grad Nation Guidebook is an evidence-

based guide to help increase the high school

graduation rate in your community. This

resource is available free of charge and online

at www.americaspromise.org/gradnation.

It includes the latest research, best practices

and ready-to-print tools for meeting your

community’s specific high school dropout

challenges.

Highlights include:

A quick assessment tool on taking commu-•

nity action to increase graduation rates

Tools to help perform a policy audit of •

what laws need to be in place to increase

graduation rates

A list of organizations that offer •

technical assistance

a HelPFul resource

There are many ways for individuals and organizations to get involved in this work. Here are a few specific ways that you can highlight. Many other ideas can be found on the America’s Promise Alliance website.

Write an op-ed, letter to the editor, or letter to 1. local media about the high school dropout crisis in your community and what can be done about it. Remember to highlight solutions in response to the problem. Become familiar with political candidates’ educa-2. tion initiatives and vote.Draw attention to the dropout crisis through 3. networks (e.g. church groups, book clubs, neigh-borhood associations).

Make a donation to support a school, library or 4. youth-focussed initiative.Visit DonorsChoose.org to fund -classroom projects. Donate a book at FirstBook.org, Reading Is -Fundamental, Reach Out and Read or another early reading program.

Donate to America’s Promise Alliance or one -of its partners.

Volunteer in your community: mentor, tutor, 5. read with, support or coach a young person. Visit www.mentoring.org for more information.

To learn even more about what you (educators, parents, businesses, community organizations, and young people) can do, please visit the America’s Promise Alliance website.

How to Get Involved

BooksRaising the Grade: How School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation by Bob Wise. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008.The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic! by Bill Mil-liken. Carlsbad, CA: Hayhouse, 2007.Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010.Restructuring Schools: The Next Generation of Educational Reform by Richard Elmore. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1990.

Other MoviesThe Lottery thelotteryfilm.com/getinvolved2Million Minutes www.2mminutes.com/aboutTen9Eight Shoot for the Moon ten9eight.com

Websites www.waitingforsuperman.com/actionwww.edweek.orgwww.greatschools.orgwww.donorschoose.orgwww.getschooled.comwww.unitedway.orgwww.stand.orgwww.mentoring.org

Check out the hundreds of Alliance Partners that have resources that may help you in your community. Visit www.americaspromise.org/Partnerships/Alliance-Partners for the complete list and how our partners can help you end the dropout crisis in your neighborhood.

Additional Resources and Topics for Discussion

About America’s Promise Alliance and Grad Nation

About Participant Media

Participant believes that a good story, well told, can truly make a difference in how one sees the world. Whether through feature films, documentaries or other forms of media, Participant tells compelling, en-tertaining stories that also create awareness of the real issues that shape our lives.

The company seeks to entertain audiences first, then to invite them to participate in making a difference. To facilitate this, Participant creates specific social action campaigns for each film and documentary designed to give a voice to issues that resonate in the films. Par-ticipant teams with social sector organizations, non-profits and corporations who are committed to creating an open forum for discussion and education and who can, with Participant, offer specific ways for audience members to get involved. These include action kits, screening programs, educational curricula and classes, house parties, seminars, panels and other activities, as well as our ongoing “legacy” programs that are updated and revised to continue beyond the film’s domestic and international theatrical, DVD and television windows. To date, Participant has developed active, working re-lationships with 156 non-profits who collectively have the potential of reaching more than 75 million people.

Founded in 1997 with General Colin Powell as Chair-man and chaired today by Alma Powell, America’s Promise Alliance is a cross-sector partnership of more than 400 corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organi-zations and advocacy groups that are passionate about improving lives and changing outcomes for children. We have made a top priority of ensuring that all young people graduate from high school ready for college, work and life. Our work involves raising awareness, encouraging action and engaging in advocacy to provide children the key supports we call the Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, a Healthy Start, an Effective Education and Opportunities to Help Others.

On March 1, 2010, President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Gen. Colin Powell and America’s Promise Alliance Chair Alma Powell gathered together at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with hundreds of partners from every sec-tor. On that day, we officially embarked on the most ambitious effort the Alliance has ever undertaken — Grad Nation — to mobilize America to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce.

Support for education reform is essential, but this alone is not enough. We must also build the public and political will necessary to sustain a successful national movement. And we must work together to see that more young people receive the fundamental resources they need to succeed. If we focus on organizing com-munities to bring the needed support to students who attend or will attend high schools with graduation rates of less than 60 percent, while aggressively supporting education reform, then we can help end the dropout crisis and transform the lives of our most vulnerable children.

Our Grad Nation work involves four key areas: raising awareness, driving advocacy, supporting community and building alliance. State Farm is the Grad Nation presenting sponsor.

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Get Involved In GrAd nAtion

Write An op-ed, letter to the editor, or letter to locAl mediA About whAt is hAppeninG to educAtion in your community.

to learn more about what you can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

AmericAspromise.orG

DraW attention to the dropout crisis throuGh networks (e.G. church Groups, book clubs, neIGhborhood assocIatIons) by circulAtinG relevAnt reports And current Articles.

become fAmiliAr with politicAl cAndidAtes’ educAtion initiAtives And vote.

Make a Donation to support A school, librAry or youth- focused nonprofit.

visit • donorschoose.org to fund classroom projects.

donate a book to • firstbook, reading is fundamental, reach out and read, or another early reading program.

donate to • America’s promise Alliance or one of its partners.

volunteer in your community: mentor, tutor, read wIth, support or coach a younG person.

visit the • America’s promise Alliance partner page for more options.

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Get Involved In Grad NatioN

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Write a statemeNt of support for the Common Core State StandardS InItIatIve if you live iN a state that has Not adopted them.

to learn more about what you can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

americaspromise.orG

share your Grad NatioN story.

capture how the dropout crisis is impacting your community’s youth and how you or your business are mobilizing against it and email your story to america’s promise alliance.

participate iN NatioNal advocacy eveNts such as:

National mentoring mont• h (January);

National foster care mont• h (may);

lights on afterschoo• l (october).

make a doNatioN to america’s promise or a youth-serviNG NoN-profit, or adopt a NeiGhBorhood school.

connect employees with • volunteer opportunities.

establish a workplace mentoring program at your • office for local youth.

participate in a career fair and other • career exploration programs.

provide • internship, externship, apprenticeship and job shadowing opportunities for youth.

host an industry field trip at your company and give • students an inside tour.

run a book or supplies drive for a school or library.•

visit • donorschoose.org to fund classroom projects.

donate a book at • firstBook.org or another early reading program.

start or joiN coordiNated efforts iN your commuNity wIth parents, communIty Groups and your local school(s) to reduce the local dropout rate.

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develop formal leadership struCtures that eNGaGe youNG people iN deCisioN-makiNG for your orGaNizatioN.

to learn more about what you can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

ameriCaspromise.orG

Work With City aGeNCies aNd other serviCe providers to develop “oNe-stop shoppiNG.”

use either permanent or periodic co-location of services during school drop-off/pick-up time or other settings where kids and parents are together (e.g., churches, public libraries, community centers, grocery stores, etc.).

host health, safety aNd Well-beiNG preseNtatioNs for studeNts aNd their families.

promote awareness about • Chip and medicaid health coverage.

• send home fliers with students about availability and enrollment.

provide flu shot clinics. •

encourage young people to have an • annual check-up.

work with local healthcare system’s mobile units • to bring health services for kids and families to places they already are (e.g., schools, congregations, community centers, etc.).

CoNduCt evaluatioNs aNd measure the impaCt of your proGrams to determiNe hoW your orGaNizatioN CaN better serve youNG people.

take advantage of independent evaluations, which are available through the points of light institute.

start or joiN CoordiNated efforts iN your CommuNity wIth parents, busInesses and your local school(s) to reduce the dropout rate In your communIty.

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encourage school staff to wear their college apparel periodically and encourage them to talk with young people about the importance of higher education and what it takes to get there.

to learn more about what You can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

amEricaspromisE.orG

post aNd promotE voluNtEEr opportuNitiEs oNliNE aNd iN class-rooms to ENGaGE parENts, familiEs aNd commuNitY mEmbErs.

KNow aNd tracK thE ABC iNdicators — attendance, behavior and course performance — that sIGnal when a student Is GettInG off track and at rIsk of droppInG out.

Institute early warning systems that monitor these indicators (e.g., early chronic absenteeism).

iNcorporatE futurE plaNNiNG aNd Goal sEttiNG iNto thE classroom.

talk with students about their • career aspirations and the education and training required for these jobs; help students make the classroom-career connection.

host a career fair and provide other career • exploration programs.

provide information about scholarships.•

help students find and prepare for internships • and college.

help kids understand the financial impact of • dropping out through interactive exercises involving different salary levels and the challenges of paying for necessities and extras with those incomes.

• work with partners like Junior achievement or Jobs for america’s Graduates to help students learn about workforce readiness and financial literacy.

• Implement a financial literacy curriculum in your classroom.

iNcorporatE sErvicE-lEarNiNG activitiEs iNto thE school curriculum.

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talk to your childreN about the imPortaNce of educatioN, health aNd safety.

to learn more about what you can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

americasPromise.orG

VoluNteer at your NeiGhborhood school or library.

tutor or mentor a child — visit • meNtor or big brothers big sisters, or contact local schools to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

talk with your child’s teacher and volunteer your • time inside or outside the classroom.

coac• h a local sports team.

teach music or art lessons. •

run a book or supplies drive for your school • or library.

Get iNformatioN about what makes a Great school for your child.

visit Greatschools.org

JoiN a PareNt-teacher orGaNizatioN.

participate in the Pta’s Great idea bank, a social networking tool that connects parents and encourages the discussion of successful parenting ideas.

become a foster/adoPtiVe PareNt or a court aPPoiNted sPecial adVocate (casa).

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Make a pledGe to Graduate.

to learn more about what You can do, please vIsIt the amerIca’s promIse allIance websIte.

aMericasproMise.orG

JoiN the Impact Network with aMerica’s proMise alliaNce from the maIn websIte or facebook paGe.

eNcouraGe Your peers to be healthY aNd Make safe choices.

VoluNteer at Your NeiGhborhood school, librarY, coMMuNitY ceNter or Youth-serViNG NoNprofit.

participate in near-peer tutoring and mentoring. •

run a book or supplies drive for your school • or library.

Get involved with • semester of service.

Go to colleGe, theN JoiN amerIcorps or becoMe a teacher.

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Top 20 Communities, based on Alliance Presence (from Among Communities with ≥2 Low-Performing High Schools)

as determined by the Johns Hopkins University's Everyone Graduates Center's Promoting Power Index*

*Promoting Power compares the number of 12th grade students in a school to the number of 9th grade students three years earlier. Note: key to symbols and colors located on last page 1

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OH COLUMBUS 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16DC WASHINGTON 5 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15FL MIAMI 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14IL CHICAGO 36 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14NY NEW YORK 14 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14CA LOS ANGELES 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13CA SAN FRANCISCO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13GA ATLANTA 4 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13MA BOSTON 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13PA PHILADELPHIA 27 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13TX HOUSTON 2 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13TX SAN ANTONIO 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13AZ PHOENIX 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12IN INDIANAPOLIS 7 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12MI DETROIT 22 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12NC CHARLOTTE 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12OH CINCINNATI 5 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TN CHATTANOOGA 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TN NASHVILLE 13 A PW x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TX DALLAS 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12

* 13 of these communities applied for Promise Neighborhood planning grants and 8 received planning grants* 7 of thes communities are are current or past winners of 100 Best Communities for Young People* 2 communities have Ready by 21 initiatives in place

* These 20 communities have 12 or more Alliance partner affiliates* These 20 communities contain 181 of dropout factories* 8 communites are part of our Featured Communities

Alliance Presence in Communities with ≥2 Low-Performing High Schoolsas determined by the Johns Hopkins University's

Everyone Graduates Center's Promoting Power Index*

*Promoting Power compares the number of 12th grade students in a school to the number of 9th grade students three years earlier. Note: key to symbols and colors located on last page 1

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AL BIRMINGHAM 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10AL HUNTSVILLE 2 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 6AL MOBILE 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7AL MONTGOMERY 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8AR LITTLE ROCK 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10AZ CASA GRANDE 10 1 1 1 1 1 5AZ PHOENIX 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12AZ TUCSON 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11CA COMPTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6CA EL MONTE 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CA FRESNO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9CA LOS ANGELES 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13CA OAKLAND 3 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9CA POMONA 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6CA RESEDA 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 6CA RIALTO 1 1 1 1 1 5CA RICHMOND 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CA RIVERSIDE 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CA SACRAMENTO 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11CA SAN BERNARDINO 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CA SAN DIEGO 24 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11CA SAN FRANCISCO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13CA STOCKTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9CA VAN NUYS 3 1 1 1 1 1 5CO AURORA 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8CO DENVER 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11CO PUEBLO 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CO WESTMINSTER 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CT BRIDGEPORT 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7CT HARTFORD 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9CT NEW HAVEN 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10DC WASHINGTON 5 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15DE WILMINGTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7FL BOCA RATON 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8FL FORT LAUDERDALE 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8FL FORT PIERCE 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7FL HIALEAH 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7FL HOMESTEAD 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8FL JACKSONVILLE 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11FL LARGO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6FL MIAMI 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14FL MIRAMAR 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6FL NAPLES 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8FL NEW PORT RICHEY 2 1 1 1 1 1 5FL OCALA 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7FL ORLANDO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10FL PALM BEACH GARDENS 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7FL PANAMA CITY 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 6FL PENSACOLA 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9FL PLANTATION 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6FL SEMINOLE 5 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 6FL ST. PETERSBURG 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8FL TALLAHASSEE 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9FL TAMPA 2 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10FL WEST PALM BEACH 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10

Alliance Presence in Communities with ≥2 Low-Performing High Schoolsas determined by the Johns Hopkins University's

Everyone Graduates Center's Promoting Power Index*

*Promoting Power compares the number of 12th grade students in a school to the number of 9th grade students three years earlier. Note: key to symbols and colors located on last page 2

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GA ALBANY 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7GA ATHENS 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7GA ATLANTA 4 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13GA AUGUSTA 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6GA BRUNSWICK 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 6GA CARROLLTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 5GA COLLEGE PARK 2 1 1 1 1 1 5GA COLUMBUS 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8GA COVINGTON 6 1 1 0 1 1 4GA DALTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6GA DECATUR 6 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8GA GAINESVILLE 2 1 1 1 1 1 5GA GRIFFIN 2 1 1 1 1 1 5GA MACON 3 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 5GA MCDONOUGH 2 1 1 1 1 4GA SAVANNAH 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9GA STONE MOUNTAIN 2 1 1 1 1 1 5HI HONOLULU 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9HI WAIANAE 2 1 1 1 1 4IL CHICAGO 36 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14IL DECATUR 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8IL EAST ST. LOUIS 2 1 1 1 1 1 5IL ROCKFORD 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7IN INDIANAPOLIS 7 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12KS KANSAS CITY 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9KS TOPEKA 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8LA SHREVEPORT 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7MA BOSTON 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13MA DORCHESTER 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6MA HOLYOKE 5 1 1 1 1 1 5MA NEW BEDFORD 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6MA SPRINGFIELD 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7MD BALTIMORE 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10MD CAPITOL HEIGHTS 2 1 1 1 1 4MI DETROIT 22 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12MI FLINT 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7MI GRAND RAPIDS 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9MI KALAMAZOO 5 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8MI LANSING 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8MI MELVINDALE 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7MI PONTIAC 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8MI SAGINAW 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8MI YPSILANTI 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6MN MINNEAPOLIS 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11MO KANSAS CITY 9 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9MO ST. LOUIS 5 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10MS GREENWOOD 8 1 1 1 1 4MS JACKSON 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NC CHARLOTTE 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12NC DURHAM 2 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10NC EDGECOMBE 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6NC GRAHAM 2 1 1 1 1 1 5NC GREENSBORO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9NC HENDERSON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NC HILLSBOROUGH 2 1 1 1 1 1 5

Alliance Presence in Communities with ≥2 Low-Performing High Schoolsas determined by the Johns Hopkins University's

Everyone Graduates Center's Promoting Power Index*

*Promoting Power compares the number of 12th grade students in a school to the number of 9th grade students three years earlier. Note: key to symbols and colors located on last page 3

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NE OMAHA 5 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10NJ CAMDEN 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6NJ EAST ORANGE 2 1 1 1 1 4NJ PATERSON CITY 2 1 1 1 1 1 5

NM ALBUQUERQUE 15 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NV LAS VEGAS 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10NV NORTH LAS VEGAS 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NV RENO 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8NV SPARKS 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6NY BRONX 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10NY BROOKLYN 28 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11NY BUFFALO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9NY CAMBRIA HEIGHTS 2 1 1 1 1 1 5NY FLUSHING 3 1 1 1 1 1 5NY JAMAICA 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NY LONG ISLAND CITY 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6NY NEW YORK 14 PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14NY ROCHESTER 6 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11NY STATEN ISLAND 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7NY YONKERS 17 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7OH AKRON 17 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9OH CINCINNATI 5 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12OH CLEVELAND 9 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10OH COLUMBUS 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16OH DAYTON 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9OH SPRINGFIELD 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7OH TOLEDO 2 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9OH YOUNGSTOWN 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8OK OKLAHOMA CITY 7 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9OK TULSA 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9PA PHILADELPHIA 27 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13PA PITTSBURGH 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9RI PAWTUCKET 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6SC CHARLESTON 3 A PW 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9SC COLUMBIA 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9SC FLORENCE 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6SC GREENVILLE 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 6SC NORTH CHARLESTON 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6SC ORANGEBURG 2 1 1 1 1 1 5SC SUMTER 2 1 1 1 1 1 5TN CHATTANOOGA 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TN MEMPHIS 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9TN NASHVILLE 13 A PW x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TX ARLINGTON 19 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9TX AUSTIN 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11TX BEAUMONT 28 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7TX BROWNSVILLE 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8TX CARROLLTON 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6TX CORPUS CHRISTI 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8TX DALLAS 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12TX EL PASO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10TX FORT WORTH 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8TX HARLINGEN 16 1 1 1 1 1 1 6TX HOUSTON 2 x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13TX IRVING 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7

Alliance Presence in Communities with ≥2 Low-Performing High Schoolsas determined by the Johns Hopkins University's

Everyone Graduates Center's Promoting Power Index*

*Promoting Power compares the number of 12th grade students in a school to the number of 9th grade students three years earlier. Note: key to symbols and colors located on last page 4

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TX MCALLEN 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7TX MERCEDES 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6TX PASADENA 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7TX PHARR 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7TX SAN ANTONIO 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13TX WACO 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11UT SALT LAKE CITY 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9VA NORFOLK 2 x 1 1 1 1 1 5VA PORTSMOUTH 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 6VA RICHMOND 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12VA SUFFOLK 2 1 1 1 1 1 5VA VIRGINIA BEACH 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9WA TACOMA 2 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8WA YAKIMA 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9WI MILWAUKEE 17 A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10

0

Featured Communities

PW= Past Winner 100 Best

Current Winner 100 Best

A=Applied for Promise Neighborhood

Awarded Promise Neighborhood Planning Grant

APA Featured Communities Update 9/24/2010 1

America’s Promise Alliance Featured Communities Update September, 2010 APA has brought together national Alliance partners and their local affiliates together with other public and private organizations to build the capacity of 12 communities to better serve their young people and prepare them for success in school, work and life through collaborative action. These “Featured Communities” have developed a local collaboration or group of partnerships engaging leadership from corporate, philanthropic, government, community-based, and education sectors, as well as the civic community (e.g., parents, youth) in an effort to increase high school completion rates and prepare young people for success in school, work, and life. The 12 Featured Communities are: Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Oakland and Washington, DC. Since the March 2010 update, APA has provided the following supports to Featured Communities:

• Spring Training: April 21-23, 2010, teams from each of the 12 Featured Communities participated in a two-day workshop to sharpen skills and develop new techniques to increase high school graduation rates and college and career readiness. America's Promise Alliance conducted the workshop in partnership with the Everyone Graduates Center of John Hopkins University, the National Governor’s Association, United Way Worldwide and Civic Enterprises. Workshop tracks included: Building Civic Will and Civic Capacity; Policies and Resources; Transforming Schools and Student Supports; and Winning Hearts and Minds.

• Youth Engagement Catalyst Grants: 11 of the Featured Community received $10,000 Youth Engagement Catalyst grants to target high priority, attainable next steps for the collaborative in their long term process toward increased youth involvement. Funded activities included hosting a youth convening, creating a youth leadership entity, youth-led research and youth creative expression and advocacy efforts.

• My Idea Local Grants: 10 of the 12 Featured Communities were markets for the My Idea local grants ranging from $500-$1500. Sponsored by AT&T, My Idea grants empower high school-aged youth to examine the high school dropout crisis, and take action to help more of their peers to graduate on time – improving outcomes for themselves and their community. A total of 84 local grants were awarded for youth-led projects that address tutoring and mentoring, parent engagement, afterschool programs, youth summits and many more.

• Technical Assistance Meetings: In order to share best practices and discuss challenges, APA conducted two technical assistance meetings with the lead conveners of the featured Communities. These small working sessions provided an opportunity to share progress and explore diverse topics including: collaboration models and practices; youth engagement; measuring results; and communication strategies.

• Bimonthly conference calls to share community progress and provide APA updates

• Site visits to share progress and challenges and provide in-person technical assistance

APA Featured Communities Update 9/24/2010 2

Following is a brief overview of each community and summary of progress.

Through the leadership of United Way of Metro Atlanta, the Alliance continues its involvement with Ready by 21 Southeast Challenge in partnership with the Forum for Youth Investment. Activities include leader interviews, community rating survey and a Leadership capacity audit report. United Way is also engaging implementing a youth engagement grant provided by America’s Promise. They are using the grant to host a series of focus groups with youth 11 to 21 years old on their perceived needs in five areas that will support their development as involved, productive and engaged adults. The focus groups, scheduled to occur in venues where youth gather, will cover the topics of Leadership Development, Preparation for College and Career, Community Engagement and Volunteerism, Access to Health Care and Media Coverage of Youth and Youth Issues.

Atlanta Convener: United Way of Metro Atlanta

The Graduate Chicago collaborative is organizing and developing a structure for its efforts to focus on preventing drop outs, reengaging struggling students, strengthening advocacy programs and communications efforts, and researching and evaluating progress. The collaborative is supporting Graduation Pathways, a new summer program for 9th grade students which takes place before 9th grade students matriculate to high school. It includes an in-school portion to prepare students for the transition to high school. The collaborative will hold an official launch event in October, raising awareness of its priorities and goals to a broader community audience.

Chicago Convener: Civic Consulting Alliance

Detroit has 30 schools labeled “drop-out factories” and in partnership with the Greater Detroit Education Venture Fund United Way is working on the launch of five learning academies. They are already starting to see good signs of progress after the first year in the Turnaround High Schools. They are measuring success at these schools through attendance and class achievement. Working with key partners to focus is on increasing out-of-classroom activities for students. With their business engagement grant provided by America’s Promise, they hosted a Career Day at the small schools at Cody High School Complex. The goals for this day were to serve as one of the components in the development of each individual student’s roadmap to success, and expose students to resources in the community that can help them overcome obstacles to achieving this success.

Detroit Convener: United Way of Southeastern Michigan

The Houston/Harris County (H/HC) Featured Community is a cross-sector group committed to raising high school graduation rates in Houston and Harris County through collaboration and coordination of efforts. The H/HC Featured Community group is convened regularly and consists of over 20 member organizations representing the education, public, business, nonprofit and faith communities. The overall goal for the Featured Community work is to tackle the dropout crisis in a family driven, community centered way. The group has been focusing on building relationships with new school and municipal

Houston Convener: Joint City/County Commission on Youth

APA Featured Communities Update 9/24/2010 3

leadership. Houston has a new mayor and school superintendent and the collaborative would like to leverage their ongoing support for their efforts and for dropout prevention in general.

The Marion County Student Success Team is coordinated by the Marion County Commission on Youth. Over 40 individuals and organizations are part of the Indianapolis effort. The group has created a a “master plan” which will guide their work over the next years with the expressed goal of raising the aggregate graduation rate of Marion County High Schools to 80 percent by 2015. Building community awareness and buy-in is also a keystone of the plan. To that end, they are working with a local radio station to develop a marketing campaign aimed at caring adults in our community which will both build their knowledge of the impact of young people dropping out, and direct these adults to take actions to support young people. Also team members are meeting one on one with community leaders from business, government, faith-based, and other sectors to assure the community is aligned with this common goal. MCCOY has added two full-time VISTA volunteers to support this effort.

Indianapolis Convener: MCCOY (Marion County Commission on Youth)

Jackson’s Promise is a cross-sector collaborative group committed to increasing the graduation rate for the Jackson Public Schools. The group consists of 20 member organizations representing the education, public, business, nonprofit and faith communities. Jackson’s Promise intends to increase the graduation rate for Jackson Public Schools by targeting Provine and Wingfield High Schools, its two lowest-performing feeder patterns. The collaborative developed a Summer Activities Guide which provided information on what teens could do during the summer. The Guide is geared toward high school students and college students. One of the issue focus areas of the collaborative is literacy. They held a summer reading book drive. The state of Mississippi requires students to participate in its summer reading program, but, as 85% of the youth community is on free or reduced lunch, many students in Jackson cannot afford the books. The collaborative is also offered summer reading workshops to help struggling students. They have formed a new partnership with the Jackson Public Library. They are recipients of the summer book drive to increase their stock of the summer reading list and they provide a safe place for young people to go. Additionally, the group continues to work collaboratively with the local Promise Zone Coalition targeting a third feeder pattern, Lanier High School.

Jackson Convener: United Way of the Capital Area

Leading partners for the Graduate Greater Louisville Collaborative include the City of Louisville’s Office of Youth Development, Jefferson County Public Schools, and Metro United Way. The local Chamber held their business engagement convening, funded by America’s Promise, June 10th with over 100 business leaders. The event was funded by a business engagement grant provided by America’s Promise Alliance. The event was used as a “Call to Action” for business leaders and presented data about the dropout crisis, and findings from a telephone survey on attitudes toward education and college going. Business leaders were given options to get involved including adopting a high school, providing that school with mentors, student internships and funds for a college visiting or college prep program.

Louisville Convener: Mayor’s Office

Jefferson County Public Schools began implementing a new early warning system. The technology platform being used is EdSmart, which compiles data from grades, test scores, demographics, etc. and

APA Featured Communities Update 9/24/2010 4

builds profiles of students who stayed in school versus those who dropped out. The system also looks at students’ achievement through their first semester of college, if they go to college. Other activities include the a recently started “e-school” which allows students to participate in online dual enrollment. Instead of “course recovery” this dual enrollment method focuses on “content recovery,” allowing students to only make up the materials for which they are falling behind in. JCPS is also opening a Graduation Assistance Center, which students are required to visit when withdrawing from school. The center contacts the students and families and provides them with an array of options to help the student graduate, free of cost.

The 17 committees of Alignment Nashville continue to meet monthly and work toward their goals. Committees include Parent University, Middle School, Alternative High School, Children’s Health and Pre-K. Alignment Nashville held The Academies of Nashville event June 18, 2010. Lead funding for this event was provided by the $10,000 business engagement grant received from America’s Promise Alliance. More than 300 business, community, government and education leaders gathered to celebrate current and future business-education partnerships that will pave the way to success for Nashville’s youth. MNPS has redesigned its zoned high schools into smaller learning communities, collectively known as The Academies of Nashville. The Academies enable students to learn through the lens of a career or academic theme in a highly personalized learning community. Through their academy, students are exposed to a multitude of careers and opportunities, industry skills, and potential employers by way of classroom speakers, site visits, job shadowing and internships. More than 80 businesses, organizations and postsecondary institutions have signed on as official “Academy Partners,” meaning they have agreed to provide a wide range of support for the Academies of Nashville.

Nashville Convener: Alignment Nashville

The New Orleans Kids Partnership (NOKP) provides wrap-around supports at designated schools and community hubs for children ages 0-19. NOKP has 30 member organizations working in collaboration to develop, share, coordinate and leverage resources so that all children and youth reach their optimal potential. NOKP held a career day at a local high school which is the first in a series of events funded by the business engagement grant from America’s Promise Alliance. There is a state-wide big push for mentoring partnerships with businesses and middle schools and high schools, so are able to leverage these events to fit into larger strategy. The group is also working with the local Workforce Development department to develop a career readiness program, providing internships, mentorships, and other career support resources with a specific focus on “green jobs.” To support the site-based work at schools, Jane Quinn, Director of the National Center for Community Schools at the Children’s Aid Society visited New Orleans in July for a 2-day meeting with school and community partners to discuss the community schools model and provide technical assistance.

New Orleans Convener: United Way of New Orleans

The NYC Collaborative creates a table at which to bring together multiple sectors and key stakeholders in New York City to share strategies and support the work that is underway to increase student engagement, improve student outcomes, and raise graduation rates. Neighborhood Family Services

New York Convener: Neighborhood Family Services Coalition

APA Featured Communities Update 9/24/2010 5

Coalition (NFSC) serves as the lead convener for the NYC Collaborative. Other members of the Collaborative include the NYC Department of Education Office, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, GenerationOn, The Children’s Aid Society, Good Shepherd Services, The After School Corporation, United Way of New York City, and the Youth Development Institute. One of the NYC Collaborative goals for this year was to take some key next steps to increase the level of deliberate youth engagement in solving the dropout problem. Using their America’s RPomsie Yuth Engagement funds, GenerationOn is leading a program entitled Service for School Success Youth Planning Board (SSS). The program will empower youth from across New York City to identify barriers to graduation within their communities and create service programs at their schools to address these issues by increasing student engagement.

The Steering committee for Oakland’s Promise has been meeting regularly once a month. New members of Oakland’s Promise include Casey Family Programs and Be a Mentor. To encourage stronger student engagement, Oakland held its third annual Attend & Achieve Back to School Rally on August 28 at Oakland City Hall. The Rally is a collaborative effort, led by Oakland Natives Give Back, and is one of the staple events under the Oakland's Promise Alliance umbrella. For the third year, this partnership between the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District and Oakland Natives Give Back delivered much needed "tools for school" to Oakland students. More than 1,400 parents and students attended the rally. More than 900 young people from kindergarten through high school received “tools for school” giveaways . Currently Oakland’s Promise is trying to re-align with the new strategic plan of the school district and will hold a retreat with the superintendent to gain a better understanding of his vision for Oakland schools.

Oakland Convener: Mayor’s Office

Chavez submitting a successful application for a Promise Neighborhood planning grant from U.S. Dept. of Education. The DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI), led by Chavez will create a community effort in preparing children from “cradle to college to career” in the Parkside/Kenilworth. DCPNI has been hosting monthly community dinners to engage residents and potential partners. Through their Youth Engagement grant provided by America’s Promise, students enrolled in the Media Literacy course at the Chavez Parkside campus are examining the causes, impacts, stakeholders and potential solutions involved in the dropout crisis. They are also examining the role of media as a tool to solve public problems and learn the skills of film-making and advocating. Armed with knowledge of the dropout crisis, video cameras and special computer editing equipment, these students will become the catalyst for discussing, filming and promoting youth voice in solving the drop out crisis.

Washington, DC Convener: Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy

My Idea Grants Program

America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) and AT&T recently announced the winners of the My Idea grants program, an initiative to engage young people in an effort to keep their peers in school. AT&T’s $1 million contribution to the Alliance to fund the re-granting initiative has enabled them to provide young people nationwide with the opportunity to develop and implement their own ideas for increasing the nation’s graduation rate. A total of 110 winners were selected by the Alliance from applicants representing 35 states and the District of Columbia, to receive funding of up to $20,000 each for their youth-led projects.

My Idea grants were offered on both a national and local level to ensure student applicants from across the country had the opportunity to compete for funding for their projects. National grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 have been awarded to 36 youth to fund community-wide projects to take place over the 2010-2011 school-year. Local grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 have been awarded to 74 youth in targeted schools and neighborhoods in 10 Alliance-identified communities. These local grants will also focus on a collaborative effort to increase high school graduation rates and programs will take place this fall. Recipients of both national and local My Idea grants will be paired with skilled Alliance partners in their community to carry out their proposals.

“America’s Promise Alliance and AT&T’s collaborated effort to inspire youth to become proactive in helping their classmates graduate on time highlights the joint commitment to make this country a Grad Nation,” said Marguerite Kondracke, President and CEO, America’s Promise Alliance. “The My Idea grant program is a perfect example of engaging all the critical stakeholders in the fight to help end the high school dropout crisis by supporting outstanding initiatives proposed by young people from around the country.”

The following individuals are a sampling of the local and national recipients of a My Idea grant:

• Akil Gregory, of Akron, OH, along with a team of other students submitted an idea titled Griffins Moving Towards Success that has been granted $19,500. Griffins are the mascot for Buchtel High School. As a rising senior, Gregory feels that students at Buchtel are not perceived as diverse, achievement oriented and successful. In order to change that negative perception, the idea proposed focuses on ninth graders by providing mentors, connecting to caring adults, and creating user friendly information for students and parents. The project will also include a video story collection and a college visit. The youth-led project will partner with the local organization Project GRAD Akron.

• Elizabeth Rix, of Brooklyn, NY, proposed a local initiative titled SPEAK (Students, Parents, Educators Act with Knowledge) that has been awarded $1,500. At 14, Rix had already observed that youth in her neighborhood of Bushwick face many issues such as poverty, gangs and lack of family support. After finding out that schools in her neighborhood average only a 63% graduation rate, 12 points behind the state average, Rix and her team proposed a forum with a panel discussion to come up with data on why area youth are falling behind. Youth, parents, teachers, and elected officials will be invited with the hope that conversations on the issue will motivate action in the community.

“Our youth have credibility with their peers, and need to be directly involved in charting solutions to the dropout issue,” said Charlene Lake, Senior Vice President-Public Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for AT&T. “Through this initiative not only are their voices heard, but they also are learning how to work within their communities to translate ideas into action.”

The AT&T contribution and the My Idea Grants program are an important component of Grad Nation, the next phase of the Alliance’s highly successful Dropout Prevention campaign. A 10-year initiative, Grad Nation is focused on mobilizing Americans to end the dropout crisis and ensuring that young people have the key supports they need for college and a 21st

AT&T’s contribution is one of the largest gifts ever made to the Alliance and was made through the AT&T Aspire program, the corporation’s $100 million commitment to help students succeed in high school, the workforce, and in life.

century career. This work will pay special attention to areas of the country where the need is the greatest, especially communities surrounding the nation’s 2,000 lowest-performing high schools, which account for approximately 50 percent of all young people who drop out of school.

AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. As part of its commitment, AT&T launched Aspire in April 2008. AT&T Aspire is one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to address high school success and workforce readiness.

To view a full list of My Idea grant recipients and to learn more about Grad Nation initiatives please visit: www.americaspromise.org.

Building a Grad Nation: Partnerships for Student Success

November 7-9, 2010

Milton Hershey School Hershey, PA Overview America’s Promise Alliance in partnership with the Milton Hershey School is hosting a three-day convening, Building a Grad Nation: Partnerships for Student Success, November 7-9, 2010 at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Attendees will have the opportunity to share best practices and innovative strategies and continue to build their capacity to implement results-driven strategies for improving high school graduation and college readiness. This event will bring together over 200 community representatives including cross-sector teams from each of the 12 Featured Communities and representatives from Hershey’s Pennsylvania network of partners. Participants will include, educators, youth development staff, young people, business leaders and civic and faith leaders. America’s Promise Alliance is proud to be partnering with the Milton Hershey School on this event. In existence for 100 years, Milton Hershey School nurtures and educates children in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives. It’s a cost-free, private, coeducational home and school for children from families of low income, limited resources, and social need. The School is funded by a trust established by Milton S. Hershey and his wife Catherine. Milton Hershey School offers a positive, structured home life year-round and an excellent pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education. Their vision focuses on building character and providing children with the skills necessary to be successful in all aspects of life. It provides a home, food, clothing, medical care, and a quality education at no cost. Today, the Milton Hershey School, serves 1,800 children from across the country. Program Building a Grad Nation: Partnerships for Student Success will provide opportunities to learn from experts and leaders in the field, share best practices and innovative strategies and network. Some of the key topic areas and themes for the event are:

• Explore issue of poverty as it relates to dropout and college readiness crises and models/strategies for breaking the cycle and providing holistic supports

• Value of partnerships/collaboration and effective and innovative models/strategies • Best practices and innovation: What works, what doesn’t, why • Involving youth in the solution: theory and practice of engaging youth and youth voice • Parent and Family engagement to support educational success

Please save the date for our

2011 Alliance Trustees Meetings March 29, 2011 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

June 21, 2011 10:00am – 2:00pm

October 25, 2011 10:00am – 2:00pm