1.23 Million Students Will Fail to Graduate in 2008;

New Data on U.S. Congressional Districts Detail Graduation Gaps

Report Finds State-Level P-16 Councils Are Increasingly Popular but Often Lack Support,

WASHINGTON[~]June 4, 2008[~]For today[base ']s high school graduates, postsecondary education and training have become virtual necessities for a successful adult life. Yet conflicting signals about what it takes to do college-level work create confusion and significant hurdles for many students, according to a report released today by Education Week.

The report, Diplomas Count 2008: School to College: Can State P-16 Councils Ease the Transition?, explores the rapid growth of and challenges faced by state-level P-16 councils, which seek to better align educational institutions from preschool through postsecondary by bringing together key representatives from all levels of education, state government, business, and the community.

The report also includes the latest analysis by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center of graduation rates nationwide, finding that an estimated 1.23 million students, or almost 30 percent of the class of 2008, will fail to graduate with their peers. Native American, Hispanic, and African-American students are among the groups with the lowest graduation rates.

In addition, a new analysis conducted for Diplomas Count[~]which is part of a multiyear project supported by the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[~]reports graduation rates for each U.S. congressional district. The data will inform the lawmakers responsible for crafting the policies that shape the nation[base ']s public schools.

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