Graduation for All

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Overview

In 2007, Boston Public Schools launched Graduation for All, an initiative to ensure that every student graduates from high school with the skills and knowledge to succeed in college or other post-secondary education.  The initiative includes an unprecedented collection and analysis of student drop-out and graduation data in order to devise a citywide plan to ensure a 100% graduation rate.

"Strategic Planning to Serve Off-Track Youth"

In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Jobs for the Future, the school district commissioned The Parthenon Group to conduct an extensive study about Boston's off-track youth.  The results of the 10-month study would be used to develop strategies for dropout prevention, intervention and recovery.

The study revealed, among other findings, that there are four key risks factors that allow nearly three-quarters of likely dropouts to be identified no later than the end of the first year of high school:

• Students with one or more 8th grade "risk factors": Students who can be identified based on having at least one of the following characteristics in 8th grade - (1) attendance rate below 80%, (2) two or more years overage relative to grade level, and/or (3) multiple 8th grade core course failures;
• Students with multiple 9th grade core course failures: First-time 9th graders who fail one or more of the following core courses - English, Math, Science, History;
• Substantially separate special education students: All students with a Substantially Separate SpEd designation at any point in grades 9-12, excluding students with severe disabilities who are not intended to receive a high school diploma; and
• Late entrant ELL students: ELL (English Language Learner) students who enter BPS for the first time during high school.

Together, these populations represented nearly 75% of students from the Class of 2004 who eventually dropped out of school.

Superintendent's Report to the School Committee (September 25, 2007)

Summary of the Parthenon Report

Complete Parthenon Report

Community Forum Series

In the fall and winter of the 2007-2008 school year, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and the Boston School Committee hosted a citywide series of community forums to present the findings of the report and engage educators and families in discussions about how best to ensure "Graduation for All."

Media Coverage: Boston Globe, Bulletin Newspapers

BPS-TV Video: Citywide Youth Forum, November 27, 2007

Community Forum Series Publicity Flier

Next Steps

Superintendent Johnson's Acceleration Agenda, presented to the Boston School Committee in January 2008, outlines a variety of strategies to support the goal of ensuring every BPS student earns a high school diploma, including:

• 10 Credit Recovery sites after school and during the summer;
• a new Academic Superintendent position reporting to the Chief Academic Officer to supervise and support all high schools;
• additional supports for students in special education programs and English Language Learners;
• an aligned pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 Literacy curriculum;
• improved coordination and delivery of student support services.

Additional resources

National Dropout Prevention Centers

Youth Transitions Project (Boston Private Industry Council)