Summer Learning Lifts Graduation Rates

Series produced by WBHM

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What happens when summer becomes a season of learning for youths instead of just a time to disconnect from school? This series explores a variety of initiatives designed to keep youths engaged in learning over the summer.

National education leaders are trumpeting recent increases in high school graduation rates, yet about 20 percent of kids still dropout before completing high school. That number jumps significantly among the Southern poor in places like Alabama and Mississippi. And it costs money. Dropouts earn less and governments pay more to support them. One possible solution? Make summer a season of learning for students that could help them stay engaged and in school. The series includes an interview with Alma Powell, leader of America's Promise Alliance, as well as several other experts on the issue. Reports include specific programs in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee that represent similar initiatives throughout the South.


3 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: A view from the balcony: the Young Musicians Camp ensemble plays everything from classical to “All About That Bass” at the University of Montevallo. , Credit: Dan Carsen
Fewer reading materials in the home. Less access to camps or museums. Those are some of the reasons “summer learning loss” disproportionately affe...

  • Added: Jul 30, 2015
  • Length: 04:44
Caption: Scholars dance out to the beat of “Uptown Funk – Bell Edition.” The YMCA of Greater Montgomery Power Scholars Academy Culmination Ceremony was held Friday, July 10, in the auditorium of Carver Elementary School in Montgomery, Credit: Shannon Heupel/Montgomery Advertiser
National education leaders are trumpeting recent increases in high school graduation rates, yet about 20 percent of kids still dropout before compl...

  • Added: Jul 30, 2015
  • Length: 04:06
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Remember when you could get a job with just a high school diploma? By 2020, it’s projected that 65 percent of jobs will require a diploma, AND, hig...

  • Added: Jul 30, 2015
  • Length: 04:40