American Graduate Initiative

[from Philanthropy News Digest]

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has announced the launch of a $4.4 million public media initiative to help improve high school graduation rates in the United States.

Public radio and television stations located in twenty community "hubs" where the dropout crisis is most acute will receive grants through the American Graduate initiative. In turn, the stations will provide resources and services designed to raise awareness of the dropout crisis, coordinate action with community partners, and work directly with students, parents, teachers, mentors, volunteers, and leaders to lower dropout rates. Stations in up to forty additional markets will receive grants through the National Center for Media Engagement. In addition, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through its support of CPB's Teacher Town Halls and the StoryCorps National Teachers Initiative, will give teachers a way to share their perspectives and experiences with helping all students graduate high school.

American Graduate builds on the success of public media in early childhood education to reach students in middle school — the stage in a young person's life when the disengagement that leads to dropping out often begins. Research shows that every year more than one million students drop out of high school. If the trend persists over the next decade, experts predict that it will cost the country more than $3 trillion in lost wages, productivity, and taxes.

"Public radio and television stations are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, and they have demonstrated time and again that they are an important resource in helping to address critical issues such as the mortgage crisis, at the local level," said CPB president and CEO Patricia Harrison. "Through American Graduate, public media will 'make it happen' by helping communities take on a new challenge — high school graduation rates — to create a more promising future for our children, the economy, and the entire nation."

“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Introduces Initiative to Combat the Dropout Crisis.” Corporation for Public Broadcasting Press Release 5/03/11.