EDUCATION

Why Education?

Nationwide, a kid drops out of high school every seven seconds. In Toledo, the Ohio Department of Education's updated method of measurement puts our graduation rate at 63 percent. That means the number of students who are not graduating is greater than the entire workforce at the GM Powertrain plant. And we're losing that many kids every school year.

The Research
The effect of these children dropping out of school ripples throughout the entire community. Students who drop out:

• Are more likely to be unemployed during economic turndowns, pay far less in taxes, and consume far more in public assistance benefits.
• Are more likely to continue the cycle of poverty; students living in low-income families drop out of school at six times the rate of their peers.
• Earn an average of $9.634 less annually than student with a high school diploma. That's less money circulating to neighborhood businesses and development.
• Are much more likely to find themselves cycling in and out of the prison system.
• One-third of all dropouts are lost in ninth grade.

We need to look at the child as a whole person, not just as a student.

During our Community Conversations, the people we heard from said again and again that while the schools play an important role, communities and individuals have to step forward in a different way. Our goal is to make sure that these voices are heard and that they help shape how all of us work together on education. Read more about our mobilization efforts here.

Our Focus Areas
School Readiness
Schools as Community Hubs
Social  & Emotional Learning
Out-of-School Time Supports

Get Involved

You can become an integral part of our Education work.
Click here for volunteer opportunities!

We're recruiting 5000 Readers and Tutors.
Click here to sign up!

Our AmeriCorps Graduation Coaches are also creating real change in the community. Learn more here.