ERIC Number: ED538862
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Nov
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Where Are We Now? An Update to the Community
Philadelphia Youth Network
In October 2006, a collaborative of cross-sector leaders launched Project U-Turn, a citywide campaign to bring much-needed attention to Philadelphia's dropout crisis and to build the collective will to resolve it. In addition to increasing public awareness of the issue in a variety of ways, Project U-Turn's work has resulted in significant successes such as the creation of more than 1,400 slots in new and expanded educational programs; a new system for reengaging dropouts, truants and youth returning from juvenile justice placements; policies shifting to better support the educational needs of youth most at risk of dropping out; and more than $10 million dollars raised to respond to the dropout crisis in the city. Despite this demonstrable progress, the past year's work has also highlighted how much more there is yet to do; particularly with regard to reconnecting out-of-school youth to high-quality educational programming. The voices of hundreds of youth who have called the Project U-Turn Hotline since it started a year ago deliver a strong collective message: "we want to complete our educations." Across the city, however, there is not enough capacity in appropriate educational settings to meet their particular educational needs. A year ago, members of the Project U-Turn Collaborative committed to measurable goals in four specific areas--garnering strong public support to address this issue, expanding the number and variety of education options available, reaching the hardest to serve youth, and ultimately reducing the dropout rate--by which their work would be measured and for which they would be held accountable. This report documents the significant progress that has been made one year later toward attaining each of these goals.
Descriptors: Dropouts, Out of School Youth, Juvenile Justice, Public Support, Dropout Rate, Educational Needs, Dropout Programs, Graduation Rate, Reentry Students, Potential Dropouts, Community Information Services, Truancy, Educational Change, High Schools, High School Students, Cooperation, Partnerships in Education, School Districts
Philadelphia Youth Network. 714 Market Street Suite 304, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 267-502-3800; Fax: 267-502-3801; e-mail: info@pyninc.org; Web site: http://www.pyninc.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Authoring Institution: Philadelphia Youth Network
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A