"Obama Aims to Reduce School Dropouts"

- Obama is planning on giving $900 million to states who will drastically change their schools.
- That $900 million is in addition to the $3.5 billion used to help low-performing schools that was in last year's economic stimulus bill.
- About only 70% of freshmen end up graduating high school.
- Obama plans to help 5000 schools in the next 5 years.
- Among the highest dropout rates are Blacks and Latinos.
- Obama is using four techniques, the first called the "Turnaround Model" that will replace the school's principal, staff, and receive a new instructional program.
- The second method is called the "Restart Model", and it would act as a charter school.
- The third method is called "School Closure", and it would close the school and enroll the students somewhere else.
- The last method is called the "Transformation Model", and it must address teacher effectiveness, instruction, learning and teacher planning time, and operational flexibility.
- The administration is also putting $50 million towards school dropout prevention that includes support to keep the kids interested.