Dropout Prevention
There is no issue more critical in education these days than reducing our dropout rate. Failing to graduate with a diploma puts our students at a considerable disadvantage economically, and our community ultimately pays the price in terms of decreases in earnings and state tax revenue, as well as increases in our state's Medicaid costs and government assistance.
Champions of Education is working with our schools to reduce our dropout rate in a number of ways:
Pre-school Advancement
We believe that high-quality pre-school education is one of the best lines of defense against our dropout problem. Study after study has shown that increasing opportunities for high-quality pre-school provides a young child with educational advantages that result in:
- increased graduation rates
- better grades on standardized tests
- improved academic outcomes
- lower rates of crime and delinquency
- lower rates of teen pregnancy
- greater employment opportunities
- higher wages as adults
- reduced workforce absenteeism
- greater economic savings to schools and states
Teacher Recruitment and Retention
The quality of the teacher in the classroom remains one of the most important factors in keeping our students engaged in the classroom and making sure they stay in school. That's why Champions of Education works with our school systems to help them recruit the best teachers in the country for our students.
Family Involvement
Parents are the first and best teachers of our children, and yet today's uncertain economy makes it difficult for many working parents to be as involved as they might want in their children's education. Champions of Education continues to work with our businesses to encourage their employees to make use of the NC General Assembly statute, the Leave for Parental Involvement in Schools, which provides every parent of a school-age child four hours per year leave so that the employee may attend or otherwise be involved at that child's school. We are also working to provide parents with the information to access the resources needed – after school programs, mentoring, counseli
ng, etc. – to assist them in giving their children's the best tools for success.
Graduation Project
A new state requirement goes into effect for the seniors in the 2009-2010 school year to complete a project based on a hobby or career interest that includes a product, portfolio, and a presentation (the three P's). Another element of this project requires that the senior spend 15 hours with a mentor, who will advise the student on the product. Champions of Education will be putting out the call for business leaders and community members to step up and serve as mentors so that every student will be able to successfully complete this project as well as have the opportunity to spend quality time with a positive adult role model.
Education Matters
Perhaps the most ambitious education initiative in Catawba County to date, this program strives to provide our graduating high school students with a Career Readiness Certification that certifies that they have attained the skills needed to be a productive employee from the first day that they are hired. Additional information about this program will be available in the spring of 2009.
