10. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2009). The Condition of Education 2009 (NCES 2009-081), Indicator 20 .
11. 21.4 8.4 5.3 8.7 2007 22.1 10.7 5.8 9.3 2006 22.4 10.4 6.0 9.4 2005 23.8 11.8 6.8 10.3 2004 23.5 10.9 6.3 9.9 2003 25.7 11.3 6.5 10.5 2002 27.0 10.9 7.3 10.7 2001 27.8 13.1 6.9 10.9 2000 30.0 12.1 8.6 12.0 1995 32.4 13.2 9.0 12.1 1990 27.6 15.2 10.4 12.6 1985 35.2 19.1 11.4 14.1 1980 Hispanic Black White Race/ethnicity 2 Total 1 Year Status dropout rates of 16- through 24-year-olds, by race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1980-2007
14. School leaders must acknowledge the fact that “the apple” represents so much more and, the problems are as diverse as the students in terms of background, exposure, and what “they bring to the table.”
15. Yet, when any apple is cut through the center, there is always a “star in the middle”. Children should be the core of educational reform.
17. ScienceDaily (Feb. 27, 2007) — Having a basic knowledge of scientific principles is no longer a luxury but, in today's complex world, a necessity. Jon Miller, Michigan State University Hannah Professor of integrative studies and political science. (Credit: Michigan State University) According to research conducted by John Miller, "We should take no pride in a finding that 70 percent of Americans cannot read and understand the science section of the New York Times."
22. As America changes, we must embrace this change and prepare. Studies show that we are in trouble. Percent of 15-year-olds falling below international benchmarks: 1. South Korea 1.4 2. Japan 2.2 3. Finland 4.4 4. Canada 5.0 5. Australia 6.2 6. Austria 8.2 7. Britain 9.4 8. Ireland 10.2 9. Sweden 10.8 10. Czech Republic 12.2 11. New Zealand 12.2 12. France 12.6 13. Switzerland 13.0 14. Belgium 14.0 15. Iceland 14.0 16. Hungary 14.2 17. Norway 14.2 18. United States 16.2 19. Germany 17.0 20. Denmark 17.0 21. Spain 18.6 22. Italy 20.2 23. Greece 23.2 24. Portugal 23.6 Source: UNICEF COUNTRY RANKINGS
32. According to the African American Achievement Gap Report: In today’s public schools, success for African Americans is too often elusive. Our society still bears the legacy of a long history of racism, exclusion and low expectations for African American children, and our public education system has not adequately responded to remedy this situation. This persistent challenge is deeply harmful to the African American community, to our state, our nation, and our democracy.
