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05:25am ET, 03/22/10

KYW's Regional Affairs Council

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A shocking percentage of Philadelphia public school students never make it to graduation.

Who are the dropouts? What are the causes? What can be done to stem the tide?

KYW's Mike DeNardo presents this special 10-part series, "The 40 Percent Solution: Fighting Philadelphia's Dropout Rate." Listen all week long on KYW Newsradio 1060.

Why Kids Drop Out

"I wasn't getting challenged enough, so I dropped out. And it was, like, easy to drop out. Nobody called or nothin'."

The Warning Signs

In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo looks at the "red flags" that indicate a child may drop out.

The Astounding Depth of the Problem

"No more than 50 percent of the students graduate within four years of entering high school," says Dr. Ruth Curran Neild, a research scientist who has studied Philadelphia's dropout problem.

How Does Philadelphia Compare?

Courtney Collins-Shapiro, who heads the school district's Multiple Pathways to Graduation office, says Philadelphia's 42-percent dropout rate is similar to some other big cities, but nothing to be proud of.

The Effect on Our Economy

"In direct terms, it's in the hundreds of millions of dollars," says Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce president Mark Schweiker.

Who Are The Dropouts?

"A lot of times people try to say, 'Oh, it's bad kids that are dropping out.' Well, our data is just not showing that. There's a lot of kids from all walks of life."

Mayor Nutter's Mission

Mayor Nutter has made the dropout problem one of the central education goals of his administration.

Creating Roads Back to School

In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo visits a new center that helps Philadelphia dropouts return to school.

Alternate Paths to Graduation

In this report, Mike DeNardo takes us to an alternative high school that gives dropouts a second chance.

Fighting the Dropout Rate, Fighting the Crime Rate

"High school dropouts are 3½ times more likely to be arrested later in life, and also eight times more likely to be incarcerated, in jail."

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Fighting the Dropout Rate, Fighting the Crime Rate
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo looks at how one group links the dropout rate with the crime rate. (1:11)

Who Are The Dropouts?
Who are the students dropping out of Philadelphia high schools? KYW's Mike DeNardo reports. (1:11)

The Warning Signs
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo looks at the warning signs that indicate a child may drop out. (1:07)

How Does Philadelphia Compare?
Philadelphia is not alone, when it comes to cities tackling the dropout problem. KYW's Mike DeNardo reports.(1:10)

The Effect on Our Economy
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo looks at the impact of Philadelphia's dropout rate on the local economy. (1:05)

Alternate Paths to Graduation
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo takes us to an alternative high school that gives dropouts a second chance. (1:13)

Why Kids Drop Out
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo talks with two teenagers who dropped out of Philadelphia schools. (1:12)

Creating Roads Back to School
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo takes us to a new center that helps Philadelphia dropouts return to school. (1:09)

The Astounding Depth of the Problem
In this report, KYW's Mike DeNardo examines the depth of the Philadelphia's dropout problem. (1:00)

Mayor Nutter's Mission
Mayor Nutter has made the dropout problem one of the central education goals of his administration. KYW's Mike DeNardo reports. (1:12)