Addressing America's Dropout Challenge: State Efforts to Boost Graduation Rates Require Federal Support

In this report, the author's examine these key state and local initiatives and argue that Congress can play a vital role in substantially raising the percentage of young people who graduate from high school-- even as it continues to press forward on the goal of ensuring that all students reach academic proficiency. The first section of this report describes why it is critical for Congress to act now on this issue, through the immediate passage of a proposed, time-limited federal policy action: The Graduation Promise Act of 2007. The second section reviews the research base for this action, as well as recent growth in proven educational practices and policies based on verifiable evidence that can be leveraged and expanded. The remainder of the report provides a detailed account of the three provisions of The Graduation Promise Act. (author)