On the recordApril 7, 2011
in today's rapidly changing, global knowledge-based economy, making sure that all students graduate from high school is more important than ever. A high school diploma opens the doors to postsecondary education and workforce development programs, which lead to jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. The bottom line is that a high school diploma is no longer an option--it is an essential education credential that all Americans need to have in order to successfully compete in the workforce. Yet, for far too many, a high school diploma is still out of reach. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, one out of every three students who enters the ninth grade fails to graduate from high school within 4 years. An estimated 12 million students will drop out of school during the next decade, costing the Nation more than $3 trillion in forgone revenues and increased social service costs. When Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, we required that accountability determinations for high schools include graduation rates. However, the law did not require States to use a common formula for calculating graduation rates nor did it set graduation rate goals for high schools. As a result, states created different calculations that have led to inconsistent and inaccurate reporting of graduation rates. Without transparency, we cannot know the full extent of our Nation's dropout crisis, hold schools accountable, or design effective solutions.…
