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Every Member, Every Year: A High School Graduation Strategy

Educators across

America

have been sounding the alarm after learning results from The Silent Epidemic, Civic Enterprises' 2006 landmark report. Its findings show that nearly one-third of America's public high school students do not graduate with their class, and a staggering 50 percent of Latino, African-American and Native American students fail to graduate on time. Every 26 seconds, another child gives up on school.

The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that in Louisiana, an estimated 20,000 students did not graduate from high school in 2009, at great cost not only to themselves but also to their communities. Each class of dropouts results in financial and social costs – in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes, as well as Medicaid and expenditures for uninsured healthcare. On average, each high school dropout earns about $260,000 less in lifetime earnings than a high school graduate.

The Boys & Girls Club has a plan to address this epidemic. Building on our strong educational background, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has developed a resource called Every Member, Every Year: A High School Graduation Strategy. At the heart of this strategy is ensuring that every Club member is promoted to the next grade level every year. There is no simple solution to America’s dropout crisis, but there are a number of strategies the Club can put into place to improve students’ chances of staying in school and graduating. BGCA’s program model includes:

Academic Enrichment and School Engagement where a ll Clubs can dedicate staff to targeted educational programming and create a culture that promotes learning.
Targeted Dropout Prevention where C lubs can use targeted intervention with youth who have been identified as being at risk of dropping out of high school.
Intensive Intervention and Case Management for young people with multiple risk factors who need ongoing support and social services referrals to meet their specific needs.

As school starts, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge is implementing this new strategy and striving to have all members progress to the next grade level by May 2011.

Sign-up for F all 2010 Afterschool Enrichment Programs Here:

Beginning August 16, 2010

Twin Oaks Elementary School
Inspire Charter Academy
Forest Heights Academy
Park Forest Elementary School

Afterschool - 6:00 p.m.

Beginning September 7, 2010

Mayfair Middle School
Brookstown Elementary School
Delmont Elementary School
Greenbrier Elementary School*
Alaska Street BREC Park*

Afterschool - 6:00 p.m.

The Club sites above require:

$25 application fee
$25 per week
No transportation Provided

The Club sites above require:

$25 application fee

No weekly fee

Student must attend appropriate school

*No transportation provided (at noted sites)

Download application here

Space is limited

For more information, contact:

Katrice Terrance
Program Director
katrice@brclubs.org
(225) 383.3928

Carlos Daniels
Director of Programs
carlos@brclubs.org
(225) 383.3928