CAFE addresses dropout problem
By Taylor Hockensmith
In Georgia, a high school student will choose to drop out every 26 seconds, leaving 1.2 million students without a diploma on graduation day each year. In hopes of improving student achievement and decreasing the overall dropout rate, the Georgia Department of Education introduced the Circle of Adults Focusing on Education, or CAFE, concept to Wayne County schools.
CAFE is a collaborative team consisting of not only family and educators but the community as a whole. According to the Georgia Department of Education, "The general consensus-building process combines knowledge from the inside track of real-life family experiences, the day-to-day resumes of educators, the decision-making know-how of administrators and the big-picture viewpoint of community members."
In order for change and improvement to rise, we must first recognize the reasons so many students drop out.
According to surveys, there is no one particular cause of student dropouts. In fact, there are countless reasons some never take the initiative to graduate. A lack of engagement and basic skills is usually the start of it all. Students who can't seem to keep up, receive poor grades, fail to attend school, consume drugs and/or alcohol, become pregnant, work for financial needs, or feel unwanted by their peers and teachers are usually the ones who fall in today's startling statistics.
Let's face it: There is a major crisis in our high schools today. We no longer live in a day and age when earning a living comes easy, especially for a high school dropout. In fact, dropping out greatly reduces one's chance to secure a promising future. Dropouts' chances of slipping into poverty and going to jail or prison greatly increase, leaving a downfall in community involvement.
According to The Silent Epidemic, "Dropouts are four times less likely to volunteer, twice less likely to vote or participate in community projects, and represent only 3 percent of actively engaged citizens in the United States today." Overall, they significantly lose opportunities and add a great cost to the entire nation.
When students choose to work hard, they'll get support and take the first steps toward graduation.
So far, Wayne County has improved student outcomes through programs such as the 9th Grade Academy, credit-repair courses and support classes. According to the National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education, "Absentee rates over the past few years have dropped from 15.5 percent to 12.2 percent, and the graduation rate has steadily increased from 63.9 percent to 79.7 percent today." It's clear that everyone will benefit when the whole community works together.
As a student of Wayne County High School, I believe the CAFE program will further improve these statistics; however, parents, mentors and administration can't be held fully responsible. Ultimately, each student must decide what to make of his/her future.
The wise Dr. Seuss once said, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the one who'll decide where to go."
Students, let's encourage our peers. teachers, give students the help they deserve. Parents, stay involved with your child. And as a community, let's support our local CAFE program.