Impact Stories
POSITIVE IMPACT
AT&T Aspire is working to confront the high school dropout crisis and help ensure that students graduate prepared for the future challenges of continuing education and the workforce. To that end, we are working with organizations like America’s Promise Alliance to reach the goal of a 90 percent graduation rate across the country by 2020.
Since 2008, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have invested $100 million in programs supporting high school success and college and career readiness. On March 19, AT&T announced an expanded $250 million commitment, focusing on driving innovation in education by engaging people and technology to bring different approaches, new solutions and added resources to the issue.
Over a million students fail to graduate from high school every year. A high school diploma is an important step in preparing a young person to live an independent, secure and happy life, and to contribute to America’s economic competitiveness as part of an educated, innovative workforce. We cannot afford to lose one out of four young people to the dropout crisis.
Our business is built on the philosophy of ‘shared value,’ and to live up to that philosophy, we must do what we can to ensure that all students in America have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations. We invite you to work with us through Connect For Good, organizations like America’s Promise Alliance and in your own communities to support students and schools across the nation.
The Facts*
One in four students fails to graduate high school with their class.
For African-American, Hispanic, Native American and other minority students, the likelihood of graduating is even lower, with the graduation rate at 65 percent.
Those who drop out are more likely to be incarcerated, rely on public programs and social services, and go without health insurance than those who graduate from high school.
Dropouts from the Class of 2010 alone will cost the nation more than $337 billion in lost wages over the course of their lifetimes.
The Good News
The high school graduation rate increased by 3.5 percent nationally from 2001 to 2009.
In 2001, the rate was 72.0 percent; by 2009, it had risen to 75.5 percent. From 2002 to 2009, six states experienced large gains in their graduation rates; 14 states made moderate gains; and four states made modest gains. (Note: 2002 was the first year that state data became available.)
The number of “dropout factory” high schools (with graduation rates of 60 percent or less) dropped from 2,007 to 1,550 from 2002 to 2010 – a 23 percent decrease.
To learn more, visit www.att.com/education-news or help us spread the word by following us on Twitter: @ATTAspire.
*According to independent research.