America's Promise Alliance

Dropout Prevention Summits Update

11/5/2009

As part of the Dropout Prevention Campaign, Dropout Prevention Summits are being held in all 50 states and 55 additional cities, raising awareness and sparking solutions to increase graduation rates and college readiness. These summits have brought together more than 20,000 mayors and governors, business owners, child advocates, school administrators, students and parents to galvanize communities and states to set priorities and develop specific Action Plans. Summits will continue through 2010.

In October 2009 APA sponsored 74 summits, 41 state and 33 city summits. These summits will have directly engaged approximately 25,500 leaders with governors, mayors, school administrators and city officials actively participating.

Illinois Dropout Prevention Summit
The Illinois Adult Dropout Prevention Summit was held November 4 at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center in Bloomington-Normal, with Alliance Chair Alma Powell giving the keynote address. Jo Anderson Jr., Senior Advisor, Department of Education; Ed Rust Jr., State Farm Companies Chairman and CEO; and Chris Koch, Superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education, also spoke at the summit.

Partners from every sector of American life, including education, business, nonprofit, elected officials, faith groups, media, healthcare, and students were present to help communities implement a process to identify the nature of the local drop out problem, identify resources, develop action plans to address unmet needs, mobilize support and implement action plans with identified goals and measures of what will be considered success.

During facilitated working sessions, attendees were grouped by region to develop the framework for an action plan to take back and implement in their communities. Follow-up meetings will take place to support regions as they continue through this process and establish key statewide measures to provide the foundation for common assessment across the state

Upcoming Summits
A total of seven summits will commence in November. A comprehensive listing of summit sites with scheduling and contact information is posted at: http://www.americaspromise.org/dropoutpreventionsummits