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Home > Our Work and Action Reports > Dropout Prevention Summit

Maine’s Dropout Prevention SummitMaine's Summit Logo
July 27 and 28, 2009
University of Maine

Resources and Materials of Interest Click Here

Summit Informational Brochure Click Here

  • Purpose of dropout prevention leadership summit - a clarion call to action
  • Increase public awareness of crisis that too few young people graduate from high school ready for college and careers
  • Identify and inspire local leadership to follow-up and seek change
  • Secure commitment for integrated, cross-sector, collaborative action to implement research-based solutions that strengthen schools and provide wraparound supports to kids who need them most

America’s Promise 5 Promises

  1. Caring Adults
  2. Safe Places
  3. Healthy Start
  4. Effective Education
  5. Helping Others

Maine’s Three Key Objectives

  1. Highlight the numerous initiatives currently going on within the state using the 15 dropout prevention strategies (Clemson University) and the 5 promises (America’s Promise)
  2. Have student groups develop a branding mechanism that all initiatives aimed at putting an end to the dropout epidemic can utilize
  3. Raise a broader awareness of the dropout problem in Maine

Governor’s Challenge by America’s Promise Alliance

I pledge to convene leaders from my state to commit to working together until all the young people in Maine graduate from high school ready for college and work.

Rationale

In communities across the country, an alarming number of our students are jeopardizing their futures by dropping out of high school. Every 29 seconds, another student drops out. That’s one out of every three American high school students-one million dropouts each year.

Dropouts are much more likely:

  • To be unemployed
  • To live in poverty
  • To receive public assistance
  • To be unhealthy
  • To be divorced
  • To be single parents with children who drop out of high school themselves

Youth Engagement

  • Youth create branding and tag line for the summit and follow up
  • Youth identify core causes and the impact of dropping out through focus groups
  • Youth voice on issues captured (video/audio) to show at summit
  • Youth to speak at summit to share success stories
  • Youth to serve as co-facilitators at summit with adult
  • Youth will help plan and implement the summit

The summit in the media:

  • See the article in the Portland Press Herald on July 28, 2009

  • Read the article from the Bangor Daily News from July 28, 2009

  • Watch the video from NECN.com on July 27, 2009

  • Listen to the report from MPBN on July 27, 2009

  • Read the article from the Maine Sunday Telegram July 26, 2009

  • See the article in the Kennebec Journal on December 14, 2008

Post-summit follow-up:

  • Summit Executive Summary (doc) -- includes the summit's purpose, participants, themes, and immediate next steps.
  • Action Steps Compilation (doc) -- includes action steps brainstormed by summit participants, organized according to America's Promise Alliance's four major themes.