OBJECTIVE: Inform yourself about the issue of high school dropouts.

Your task today is to skim through the Gates Foundation report on high school dropouts, called “The Silent Epidemic.”

Read the Executive Summary
Read "Consequences of our Nation's Low Graduation Rates" (page 2)
Read "Who is Dropping Out" (page 2-3)

At the end of the period, you will have one essential question that expresses your interest in one area of the dropout problem. For example, it could be:

Why do so many Hispanic and black students drop out of school? or
What can we do about unmotivated students? or
How can we make school more relatable/relevant to students?

Eventually, you will answer your own question. You will find readings that relate to your topic. You will read those readings. Then you will present your findings to the rest of class. The goal is to have an informed opinion about the issue of high school dropouts in the U.S.