* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Informational Hearing - Graduation Rates - Baltimore City Public Schools
FOR the purpose of requesting the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools to address the City Council on graduation rates in public schools; to present an analysis of graduation rates by gender and national origin; and to discuss the applicability of the Manhattan Institute report "Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates" to Baltimore City Public School System; and to discuss any existing programs to target specific populations to prevent drop-outs and to ensure graduation.
Body
Recitals
"Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates" a report recently released by the Manhattan Institute finds that nationwide, about 72% of girls in the high school class of 2003 - but only 65% of boys earned diplomas and that the gender gap that is far more pronounced among minorities. While 59% of African American girls graduated, only 48% of African American boys graduated, and among Hispanics 58% girls graduated compared to only 49% of boys.
Suspecting that official school graduation rates were misleading, the authors of the report compiled graduation data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and tracked the school populations of the 100 largest school districts in the country form the 9th grade through the 12th grade. Baltimore ranked 91st with an overall graduation rate of 48% in 2003.
According to the study, black females in Baltimore graduated at a rate high than white females, at 58% compared to 43%. And although the general perception is that black males are the least likely to finish high school, the study found that both black males and white male had a troubling graduation rate of only 39% in 2003.
The information in the Manhattan Institute report differs drastically from the statistics reported by the Maryland State Department of Education. The state reports that the graduation rate for Baltimore was 54% in 2003. It also shows that the graduation rate for black females that year was 62%, with white females graduating at a 52% rate, white males at a 49% rate, and black males at a 45% rate.
The author of the report, a senior fellow at the Institute, that graduation rates reported by local districts might be higher than those in the report because local districts might include pupils who receive GEDs in their graduation statistics and the Institute dose not and because schools do not keep track of students who transfer. A large percentage of those students are reported as transfers when they are in fact drop outs.
The reality of the situation is that not enough of our students graduate and not enough of our adults are equipped to enter the job force or sustain a decent standard of living. Although the City is making strides in economic development we are not making strides in the social and educational development of many of our citizens.
In Baltimore, nearly 1/3rd of city adults do not have a high school diploma or a GED. Because on average, almost 1/2 of public high-school students drop out before reaching the 12th grade their job prospects are limited. There are 200,000 residents 16 and older who do not have jobs and 1/2 of Baltimore's adults are not working.
We can not expect to continue Baltimore's revitalization unless we include everybody. When one half of the city workforce has to support the other half the rate at which we can evolve is restricted. The limited tax base that has continued to be eroded in recent decades does not bode well for the future of Baltimore.
When kids drop out of school they effectively drop out of life. We can not let that happen - in their best interest and in ours.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools is requested to address the City Council on graduation rates in public schools; to present an analysis of graduation rates by gender and national origin; and to discuss the applicability of the Manhattan Institute report "Leaving Boys Behind: Public High School Graduation Rates" to Baltimore City Public School System; and to discuss any existing programs to target specific populations to prevent drop-outs and to ensure graduation.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, the Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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