Press Release: Back to School for Dropout Summits
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OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
WWW.COLORADO.GOV/GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 2009
CONTACTS
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Megan Castle, 303.319.8513, megan.castle@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER AND LT. GOVERNOR O'BRIEN GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR DROPOUT SUMMIT
ARVADA -- Gov. Bill Ritter and Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien visited Arvada High School today for the third annual Colorado Dropout Summit with educators from across the state. At the Summit, the Colorado Graduates Initiative released three new studies focusing on dropout rates, achievement gaps and gender disparities in education.
"Since taking office in 2007, we've established Colorado as a national leader in education reform," Gov. Ritter said. "We're making steady progress toward our long-term goals of cutting the dropout rate in half, reducing achievement gaps and doubling the number of in-state students who earn college degrees. Today, let us all recommit ourselves to the important work of creating new opportunities for Colorado students, of keeping them in school and fully preparing them for college and careers in today's competitive global economy."
At today's summit, the Colorado Graduates Initiative (CGI) released three new studies conducted in Colorado. The first, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, examines high school dropout rates in five of Colorado's larger school districts -- Adams 12, Aurora, Denver, Jefferson County and Pueblo City Schools -- and highlights the importance of using behavioral information to identify and intervene with students who are at risk of dropping out. The additional reports are focused on dropouts in rural Colorado, and how girls are particularly impacted by the dropout problem.
"Thanks to the recent report from Johns Hopkins, educators can now know the early warning signals that can help us in Colorado target individual students for effective interventions. We are solving this problem one student at a time," Gov. Ritter said.
"Every student who stays in school, every student who improves their attendance and achievement and every student who returns to school after dropping out is a success," Lt. Gov. O'Brien said. "We have a moral and professional obligation to see students as individuals and help each one achieve their full potential."
The summit was sponsored by the America's Promise Alliance and State Farm Insurance and was co-convened by the Governor's Office, Colorado Department of Education, and CGI.
Click here to learn more about the Colorado Graduates Initiative reports.