WASHINGTON, D.C. – In 2001, the national high school graduation rate stood at 71 percent. Fifteen years later – and for the first time ever, no state in the nation has a high school graduation rate below 71 percent and there are now 39 states above 80 percent, a major milestone toward reaching the country’s goal of a 90 percent graduation rate, according to the latest Building a Grad Nation report.

In response to the passing of Former First Lady Barbara Bush, John Gomperts, president and CEO of America’s Promise Alliance released the following statement:

“Yesterday, America lost a true champion for young people. Barbara Bush has been a fierce advocate for children and youth for many years. She stood together with us at the launch of America’s Promise 21 years ago and was an ally and inspiration ever since.

The communications team at America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, was named Nonprofit Team of the Year by PR News at its 2018 CSR and Nonprofit Awards Luncheon.

America’s Promise Alliance will honor six exceptional leaders with its Promise of America and Promise Hero Awards on April 18.  The awards will be presented by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret) and Alma Powell, the founding chair and chair of America’s Promise, at the fourth annual Promise Night Gala which will be held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

Homelessness (ICPH), Civic Enterprises and America’s Promise Alliance launched Education Leads Home, a first-of-its-kind national campaign focused exclusively on addressing the needs of the 1.3 million homeless students enrolled in America’s public schools.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, has named Dennis Vega as its chief operating officer. Vega, a dedicated public servant, has over a decade of experience in international and domestic affairs and significant expertise in organizational and strategic planning, policy development, and resource mobilization and allocation.

America’s Promise Alliance, with generous support from AT&T, announced today the selection of five states and communities as GradNation Acceleration Grant recipients, as part of the GradNation campaign to raise the high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020. The chosen grantees represent programs whose efforts are focused on accelerating progress for more young people to high school graduation and post-secondary success.

Joe Louis Barrow Jr., former CEO of The First Tee, and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF (United Negro College Fund), have been elected to its board of directors. Each will serve a three-year term, effective January 2018.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education released new data to reflect the latest high school graduation rates. The national rate has reached 84.1 percent for 2016, up from 83.2 percent in 2015.

Washington, D.C. – America’s Promise Alliance, the nation's largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, is extending the America's Promise Healthy Schools Fund to communities working to create healthier school environments for