| Dropout rates across the country have been on the | | | | students. Classes include the basics of reading, writing |
| rise over the past decade. In school year 2004-2005, | | | | and math, as well as a college survival course to help |
| an estimated 5,550 students dropped out of the | | | | them be successful in their future college courses and |
| Philadelphia schools. This is the highest dropout rate in | | | | a two-hour academic lab each week. |
| the state, about three times higher than the state | | | | Dedicated academic coordinators act as advisors, |
| average. | | | | mentors and coaches for the Philadelphia schools |
| To assist these Philadelphia schools dropouts and | | | | dropouts. They also assist with student needs issues, |
| offer them an opportunity for a better life, the | | | | such as course selection, time management, and |
| Philadelphia schools have partnered with the | | | | study habits. After the first semester, the Philadelphia |
| Community College of Philadelphia, the largest | | | | schools dropouts take classes with the college's |
| degree-granting institution in the city with over | | | | general student population. |
| 38,000 students enrolled annually. | | | | The Gateway to College Program was developed by |
| According to a report by the American Youth Policy | | | | the Portland Community College and funded by the |
| Forum, 75 percent of the inmates housed at our | | | | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its partners - |
| state prisons are dropouts, and 59 percent of the | | | | Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford |
| federal prison population are dropouts. Though the | | | | Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The plan |
| Philadelphia schools already have programs in place to | | | | is to replicate the program at 17 colleges nationwide |
| aid students currently in school, they knew that more | | | | by 2007. Philadelphia is its largest urban center to |
| had to be done to aid those who had already | | | | participate to date. |
| dropped out. | | | | The Community College of Philadelphia was granted |
| Part of the Gateway to College Program, the | | | | $10.25 million over a seven-year period, of which |
| Philadelphia schools dropouts begin school in the fall of | | | | $350,000 is slated for planning and startup for the |
| 2006. The program offers dropouts the chance to | | | | first three years. Remaining monies and in-kind |
| simultaneously work toward a diploma and associate's | | | | services will come from the college and the |
| college degree or certificate. | | | | Philadelphia schools. |
| The college expects to enroll 360 Philadelphia schools | | | | The new program expands options for vulnerable |
| dropouts over the next three years. The dropouts | | | | youth, who were left behind by the Philadelphia |
| must be between the ages of 16 and 20, with at | | | | schools traditional system. These are youth who |
| least an eighth grade reading level. They can attend | | | | often have been written off as failures by teachers, |
| day, evening and weekend classes at the college, | | | | administrators, and parents. This is their second |
| with their first semester in small learning groups of 20 | | | | chance. |