Tulsa Hosts Dropout Prevention Summit
The City of Tulsa and the University of Tulsa were hosts to the Keeping Our Promise Dropout Prevention Summit at the TU’s Allen Chapman Activity Center Aug. 29.
The summit was sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance. The City of Tulsa was the second city in the nation to host this summit.
Educators, non-profit organizations, government officials, leaders, students and parents were all on hand to focus on one common goal: improving high school completion rates in Tulsa by enhancing the quality of education.
Representatives from Tulsa area school districts focused on their initiatives that service students during transitional years, and preparation for college and the workforce.
Mayor Taylor says the summit was the perfect opportunity to come together and focus on the future of Tulsa youth.
Statistics show that every 26 seconds a student drops out of high school in America. That adds up to more than 1.1 million students per year. For youth who don’t graduate from high school, future prospects are dim. And for those who do graduate, far too many are not prepared for college and work.
The America’s Promise Alliance, founded by General Colin Powell, wants to reverse this trend. The Alliance will support 50 states and at least 50 city Dropout Prevention Summits by 2010. The summits will increase awareness, encourage collaboration and facilitate action in those states and communities that want to improve their graduation rates.
A post-summit plan will focus on the importance of strengthening every school site and will build upon developing programs that use workforce development as a vital part in dropout recovery.
Updated 09-22-2008
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