In the U.S. nearly one million students drop out before graduating high school. In Caddo Parish nearly half of students enrolled will not graduate. Children who drop out are more at risk of  being unemployed, working low-paying jobs, becoming addicted to drugs, committing crimes, being incarcerated, or raising families on welfare. When a child drops out of school it affects the child, families, our community, and our state.     
    
Red River Radio presents "American Graduate: Youth in Jeopardy - The Drop-Out Crisis," a series of call-in shows to address causes and solutions.  We explored opportunities for parents and the community to support students and help them through to graduation. In the U.S. nearly one million students drop out before graduating high school. In Caddo Parish nearly half of students enrolled will not graduate. Children who drop out are more at risk of  being unemployed, working low-paying jobs, becoming addicted to drugs, committing crimes, being incarcerated, or raising families on welfare. When a child drops out of school it affects the child, families, our community, and our state.     
         
Red River Radio is partnering with other organizations in our community such as the Alliance for Education, which are assisting us with compiling resources and providing information. Red River Radio partnered with LPB for a town hall meeting addressing the Caddo Parish and state drop-out crisis which aired on LPB's "Louisiana Public Square" and on Red River Radio.         
    
In Caddo Parish, many students quit school between eighth and ninth grade. As part of this initiative, Red River Radio will invite selected Caddo Parish eighth-graders to visit the station to learn about careers in radio.
    
You may find information about upcoming events during this initiative on Red River Radio's Web site, Facebook and Twitter pages.

American Graduate Resource List

The resource list below is a compilation of organizations with programs or information to help support students through to graduation. You can listen to each program in the series on line as well. Just Click These Links:

Program 1: School Attendance and Truancy
Program 2: Governmental Issues
Program 3: A Town Hall Meeting
Program 4: Higher Education's Role

Community and National Resources

American Graduate: Let's make it happen

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Alliance for Education

Dropout Prevention

Volunteers of America: The Lighthouse Program

Americas Promise Alliance

Attendance Works

Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish

Volunteers for Youth Justice

The Rutherford House

Bossier Parish Truancy Assessment and Service Center