RESOLUTION

Authorizing the Committee on Education to investigate and conduct hearings on how to increase the number of Philadelphia high school students who attain a education beyond a high school diploma and to examine reported studies and data regarding the high school drop out rate among public school students prior to graduation.

WHEREAS, dropping out of school prior to graduation is a complex problem whose solutions must begin in early childhood and continue with a broad range of policies and programs across all institutions and organizations; and

WHEREAS, according to the Blue Ribbon Commission report published in January 2007, about 4 out of every 10 Philadelphia public school students entering ninth grade do not graduate in four years; and

WHEREAS, research also reveals the social and economic consequences when individuals do not complete their high school education, since as a result, they traditionally must work at low paying jobs or are unable to find employment at all, return less in tax revenue to governments, cost more in social services, are more likely to be in the criminal justice system, are less likely to become civic participants and are more likely to be part of a cycle of poverty; and

WHEREAS, according to the research found in a report prepared by Project-U-Turn, there is a need in Philadelphia to identify, promptly refer, and secure services for children and youth in order to meet the needs of those who dropped out of school; and

WHEREAS, only 18 percent of our City’s residents have a four-year bachelor’s degree which ranks Philadelphia 92nd on the list of the top cities in the country in four-year bachelor’s degree attainment; and

WHEREAS, this Administration and City Council must work with the Pennsylvania state legislature to amend the state law to only allow a student at the age of 17 to drop out as opposed to the current age of 14; and

WHEREAS, on January 7, 2007 Mayor Michael Nutter announced his commitment during his inaugural speech to implore young students within the Philadelphia public, parochial, and charter school systems to remain in Philadelphia, which will help, maintain neighborhoods as desirable places to live and work and attract economic development opportunities that can impact the region and future generations; now therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby authorizes the Committee on Education to investigate and conduct hearings on how to increase the number of Philadelphia high school students to attain education beyond a high school diploma and to examine reported studies or data regarding the high school drop out rate among public school students prior to graduation.