Today, one out of every four Michigan students fail to graduate from public high school with their class. Students who drop out of school lack the tools to compete in today's society and diminish their chances for greater success in the future. Dropouts are more likely than high school graduates to: be unemployed, live in poverty, spend time in jail, have poor health, be single parents of children who drop out of high school.

TURNING THE TIDE

Research shows most students send distress signals years before they drop out of school. In fact, key early warning signs displayed by students nearing or entering transitional school years, such as 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades, have been proven to be strong dropout predictors.

MICHIGAN'S 2009-2010 CHALLENGE TO SCHOOLS

Identify 10-15 students in all elementary, middle and high schools who are nearing or in a transition year with multiple dropout risk factors and provide research-based supports and interventions.

POSSIBLE ONE-YEAR IMPACT 60,000 STUDENTS

SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS SIGN UP BY OCTOBER 28, 2009 TO BE PLACED ON LIST OF CHALLENGE DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE RELEASED ON OCT 30, 2009.