Whatever It Takes: How Twelve Communities Are Reconnecting Out-Of-School Youth

“Whatever It Takes: How Twelve Communities Are Reconnecting Out-Of-School Youth documents what committed educators, policymakers, and community leaders across the country are doing to reconnect out-of-school youth to the social and economic mainstream. It provides background on the serious high school dropout problem and describes in-depth what twelve communities are doing to reconnect dropouts to education and employment training. It also includes descriptions of major national program models serving out-of-school youth.” – Publisher’s description Individual Case Studies Packaged With Report Introduction, Recommendations (from American Youth Policy Forum Website): Montgomery County (Dayton), Ohio A county-led recovery effort centered on charter schools for out-of-school youth Jefferson County (Louisville), Kentucky A large school district with 80 options to retain and graduate its students; advanced use of student data to ensure accountability Austin, Texas An alternative public high school and community-based organization charter schools providing multiple options for out-of-school youth Salt Lake City, Utah A public high school that transcends definitions of dropout prevention and recovery and continuing education to serve 9,000 youth and adults annually Portland, Oregon A school district, community-based-organizations, and a community college working together for at-risk and out-of-school youth; state legislation facilitating dropout reconnection and funding of alternative education Oakland, California Two veteran, entrepreneurial community-based organizations approaching out-of-school youth with different perspectives Trenton, New Jersey A nontraditional public high school graduating large numbers of out-of-school youth and young adults Baltimore, Maryland A mayoral commitment to out-of-school youth leading to partnerships with the private sector and many community-based organizations Pima County (Tucson), Arizona Arts and horticulture employment training programs and a county-wide public campaign to support dropout recovery Camden, New Jersey An education and job-readiness youth service and conservation corps with a strong emphasis on youth development Milwaukee, Wisconsin Pioneer state legislation and school board innovation offering multiple educational options for at-risk and out-of-school youth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayoral and school district leadership supporting city-wide youth service planning and funding mechanisms for community-based organizations; innovation in juvenile justice reintegration