The Dropout Dilemma

An American Graduate town hall meeting that looks at how the Rochester City School District's high drop out rate is impacting our community. Watch On-Demand:

WXXI News presents The Dropout Dilemma, a re-airing of a live television American Graduate town hall meeting on October 21, 2012 from 12:30pm-1pm.  Produced in December, 2011 the show is co-hosted by WXXI’s Helene Biandudi and WDKX’s Tariq Spence. The program explores how the Rochester City School District’s high dropout rate is impacting the Greater Rochester community.  Participants examine the issue from many perspectives, including the social and economic impact on the region.   In addition to a panel of community leaders, young people and staff from the Center for Teen Empowerment share their thoughts about how the dropout crisis affects their lives and neighborhoods.

Panelists include:  Dr. Walter Cooper, New York State Regent Emeritus; Erika Rosenberg, an analyst with the Center for Governmental Research; and Minister Avery Blackman, founder of African-American Youth Cultural Development, Inc.

In addition, WXXI.org features guest essays on the topic written by city and school district officials.

The Dropout Dilemma follows extensive reporting by WXXI News on the scope and root causes of Rochester’s dropout epidemic. To listen and read more reports, click here.

The Dropout Dilemma is part of the American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen initiative, a national project designed to combat the high school dropout crisis by partnering with public broadcasting stations across the country to educate communities on the dropout problem, rally support, and help coordinate efforts to address the problem. WXXI was one of 40 American Graduate Engagement Communities selected to drive widespread awareness of the causes and ramifications of a high dropout rate; provide community members with ways to actively support at-risk students; and promote the pathways to existing community resources by partnering with 2-1-1 and other key stakeholders.

The WXXI American Graduate Community Engagement Project is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and RochesterMentors. The re-airing is  made possible in part by Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, preparing students for graduation, college, and a career.

To learn more about the issues and watch & listen reports on-demand, visit: http://wxxi.org/grad