Colin Powell's Call and CIS' Answers to the Drop-Out 'Catastrophe'

Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is asking the nation to focus on what he refers to as America’s dropout ‘catastrophe”. According to a 2008 study by America's Promise Alliance, the non-profit group founded by Colin Powell and currently run by his wife, Alma, the national graduation rate hovers around 70 percent; only 52 percent of students graduate in four years from 50 of the largest school systems in the nation; and sadly, only about 57 percent of Hispanic and 53 percent of African-American students graduate with a regular diploma in four years.

We in Texas know that our drop out rate is at a crisis level. But we at Communities In Schools Houston are able to focus on our drop-in rate because our staff is performing miracles in public schools across the city by reclaiming drop-outs and keeping at-risk children in school. Just last month a small group of board members and friends of CIS were allowed to glimpse the inner workings of Lamar High School’s CIS efforts and the school’s highly successful Student Resource Center. CIS is an integral part of how the school identifies and captures kids who are falling through the cracks. The highlight of the morning was the inspirational presentations by two students who are former drop-outs and now highly productive Lamar students. Both of them credited CIS Project Manager, Sheleigh Beggs, with turning their lives around. “She saved my life” and “Without CIS, I do not know where I would be…” were the actual words these students used.

During the June meeting of the CIS board, board members were introduced to two super-star students from Lee High School. Of Lee High’s approximately 1800 students, 80% are at-risk and 50% drop out. These two students were among the many students struggling to stay in school when they came to the attention of Neysa Gavion, Lee’s CIS Project Manager. They had the kind of severe family crisis and on-going personal challenges could immobilize any adult. But on the day of our board meeting, they were all smiles because they came to share with us how they had overcome their obstacles with the help of CIS miracle worker, Ms. Gavion. One student went from being homeless and parentless to becoming an honor roll student heading to college with a choice of three scholarships. The other student was depressed and barely present after her long-time boyfriend was shot and killed in her presence. She is now a devoted ‘A’ student and founder of the school’s Peer Grief Counseling Group.

The happy truth is that these students represent what is occurring on campuses all over Houston where CIS is present, because CIS has had an extremely successful 30 years of experience working in the public school trenches saving at-risk students and motivating those who have dropped out to drop back in. Over 90% of the students on CIS caseload graduate.

Of the high school drop out epidemic, Colin Powell says*: ‘Finishing high school is absolutely basic to being a success at any place in our society. We can’t afford this.” Alma Powell says*, "You cannot afford to let one go….You cannot give up."

Communities In Schools Houston, along with it’s partners and volunteers, does a miraculous job combating the drop-out rate in our city. As Project Manager, Sheleigh Beggs, says, "We give our students whatever they need to stay in school and succeed." But we cannot do it alone. Click HERE to see how you can help.

*quotes from CNN.com article, http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/18/bia.saving.desmond/index.html