The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Statement
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America’s Promise Alliance: “Don’t Call Them Dropouts.”
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An urgent call to better understand why so many youth are leaving high school without their diplomas instead of simply branding them with a negative term is the central message of a new report by Opportunity Nation Steering Committee Member America’s Promise Alliance (APA), Don’t Call Them Dropouts.
Dear Congress: A letter from 200 Businesses And Organizations
•Opportunity Nation Welcomes College Visions to our Coalition
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Voices of Career and Technical Education
•The growing importance of career and technical education as a viable path to the American Dream was highlighted this month in a thought-provoking piece in US News & World Report, Vocational High Schools: Career Path or Kiss of Death. Happily, as the article underscores, more educators are dispelling the myth that gaining technical skills and earning industry-recognized certificates while in high school unfairly limits students’ futures.
Vocational High Schools: Career Path Or Kiss of Death?
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When William Fuller graduates this spring, he'll be leaving with more than just a high school diploma. He'll also have a carpentry certification and a full-time job offer from his current employer, a custom cabinetmaker in Lester, Pennsylvania. That's because Fuller is graduating from Philadelphia's Mercy Vocational High School, which aims to ensure that students leave not only with the basics they need to earn a high school diploma in the state, but also an industry certification.
A Way to do More Than 80%
•As many of you know, America’s Promise Alliance made an exciting announcement at their summit this past week: for the first time ever, the national high school graduation rate is 80 percent. But there is much more work to be done to help more young Americans cross the finish line and pursue meaningful educational and career pathways after high school – particularly students struggling with their classes and low-income youth who are at higher risk for dropping out.
It’s Time (Way Past Time) to Reauthorize WIA
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What is WIA?
•With all the great attention CTE and apprenticeships are getting lately, I wanted to make sure you were aware that another hugely important bill is heating up – the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Opportunity Nation’s coalition has long supported key components of this important law, which has been due for a major overhaul since 2003.
