The Graduation Promise Act (GPA) authorizes $2.5 billion in new funding to turn around low-performing high schools. The GPA provides money to districts and states in order to implement effective, research-based reforms tailored to a low-performing school’s specific needs.
Title I of the GPA authorizes a $2.4 billion High School Improvement and Dropout Reduction Fund to support the development of statewide systems of differentiated high school improvement in every state. Title II authorizes $60 million in competitive grants for the development, implementation, and replication of effective secondary school models for struggling students and dropouts. Title III authorizes $40 million in competitive grants to states to remove barriers and create innovative incentives to improve student outcomes for every young person in the state.
In a world in which a meaningful high school diploma has become the minimum qualification necessary to support a good job and family well-being, far too many American students are being allowed to fall off the path to prosperity. These problems have escalated to crisis proportions in thousands of the nation’s high schools and are hampering the opportunities of millions of students. The quality of high school education is increasingly central to national concerns, including securing the nation’s global economic position, reducing threats to national security, and assuring equal opportunity for a population that is growing increasingly diverse. By appropriately extending its education focus to include the needs of students in middle and high schools, the federal government can move the nation from “no child left behind” to “every child a graduate.”
To meet this goal, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) have introduced the Graduation Promise Act (GPA). Congressman Rubén Hinojosa has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Title I of the GPA authorizes a $2.4 billion High School Improvement and Dropout Reduction Fund to support the development in every state of statewide systems of differentiated high school improvement that will focus research and evidence based intervention on the lowest performing high schools and will improve the capacity of the high schools to reduce dropout rates and increase student achievement. Title II authorizes $60 million in competitive grants for the development, implementation, and replication of effective high school models for struggling students and dropouts. Title III authorizes $40 million in competitive grants to states that are ready to move quickly on identifying and implementing changes to state policy that will remove barriers and create appropriate incentives to improve the educational outcomes and options of every young person in the state.
About the Graduation Promise Act:
- To learn more about the Graduation Promise Act, read the one page overview of the bill. This section-by-section summary provides detailed information about how the Graduation Promise Act works.
- This document answers Frequently Asked Questions about the Graduation Promise Act. (coming soon)
- SENATORS INTRODUCE GRADUATION PROMISE ACT: New Legislation Would Target Lowest-Performing High Schools (Straight A's article)
From the GPA sponsors:
- Senator Jeff Bingaman’s (D-NM) floor statement and press release.
- Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-MA) floor statement.
Support for the GPA: Since being introduced on April 23, 2007, in the Senate and June 29, 2007, in the House, the Graduation Promise Act has garnered support from members of Congress and members of the education community.
- The Alliance for Excellent Education, the Center for American Progress, Jobs for the Future, and National Council of La Raza released this joint statement in support of the bill’s introduction.
- Dozens of education organizations, representing K-12 educators and school personnel, researchers, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, parents, policy organizations, and other advocates have signed letters of support sent to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
GPA in the News: The Graduation Promise Act has been the subject of various articles, op-eds, and blogs.
- “Hinojosa introduces legislation to combat dropout crisis” - KGBT TV (Rio Grande, TX), June 29, 2007
- “Senators unveil initiative to invest $2.5B in high schools” - Education Daily, April 24, 2007