American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen
Every year, more than 1.3 million students drop out of high school. That's 7,000 students a day. In Indianapolis, the graduation rate has been growing, but many local schools continue to fail their students. The weight of the situation cannot simply rest on teachers; if every part of the Indy community comes together, different types of conversations can help generate new and creative solutions.
Indiana graduation rates
up over the past five years.
2006: 76.7 %
61,013 students.
2007: 76.6%
61,890 students.
2008: 77.8%
64,016 students.
2009: 81.6%
65,531 students.
2010: 84.5%
66,711 students.
Source: Indiana Department
of Education
Students have the will to graduate, but they do not always have the necessary support or resources. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), in partnership with America's Promise Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen — an initiative to help combat the dropout crisis in this country.
Local public radio and television stations, located in 20 "hub markets" where the dropout crisis is most acute, are at the core of the American Graduate initiative.
Here's What WFYI is Doing
WFYI officially launched its American Graduate local initiative in early 2012 with the debut of a strengthened web presence, a comprehensive radio series, and a network of innovative community partnerships. Stay tuned as we construct a variety of exciting collaborative projects in order to engage and convene the Indianapolis community, generate dialogue, and work together to create the collective impact needed to transform the dropout crisis in Marion County and across the nation.
