As access to skilled workers becomes increasingly vital to the U.S. economy, AT&T is launching a quarter-billion-dollar campaign to help more students graduate from high school ready for careers and college, and to ensure the country is better prepared to meet global competition.

According to a March 19, 2012 report by Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America's Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education, Georgia has seen a 6.7 percentage increase in 2009 graduation rates, compared with data from 2002.

AT&T Aspire, already among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives with more than $100 million invested since 2008, will tackle high school success and college/career readiness for students at-risk of dropping out of high school through a much larger, "socially innovative" approach. Social innovation goes beyond traditional philanthropy – which typically involves only charitable giving – to also engage people and technology to bring different approaches, new solutions and added resources to challenging social problems. The Aspire effort already has impacted more than one million U.S. high school students, helping them prepare for success in the workplace and college.  

"It will take all of us working together and supporting educators' hard work to continue to improve graduation rates and preparedness for careers and college," said Sylvia Russell, AT&T Georgia State President. "American business has an enormous stake in the success of our students. It's time to commit more innovation and resources to the task."

The greatly expanded effort centers on a new, $250 million financial commitment planned over 5 years. AT&T Aspire will build on that commitment by using technology to connect with students in new and more effective ways, such as with interactive gamification, Web-based content and social media. The company will also tap the innovation engine of the AT&T Foundry to look for fresh or atypical approaches to educational obstacles. Finally, AT&T Aspire will capitalize on the power of personal connections in the form of mentoring, internships and other voluntary efforts that involve many of AT&T's approximately 260,000 employees.

• Between now and April 18, 2012, AT&T is also encouraging Georgia organizations to submit applications to pre-qualify for funding through the Local High School Impact Initiative Requests for Proposals (RFPs). AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong, evidence-based practices grounded in the What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Prevention: A Practice Guide and data-driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates. More information on the RFP process is available at www.att.com/education-news (click on the "Aspire Local Impact RFP" option.

"AT&T Aspire works toward an America where every student graduates high school equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen the nation's workforce," AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said while announcing the extended commitment during a keynote address at the second annual Building a Grad Nation Summit. The Washington, D.C., event convened by America's Promise Alliance , Civic Enterprises, The Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, and the Alliance for Excellent Education brings together nearly 1,200 U.S. leaders to discuss progress and challenges in ending the high school dropout crisis.

The new and expanded AT&T commitment builds on the work AT&T Aspire has completed in the last four years. AT&T has invested more than $100 million in Aspire since 2008 – and more than $923 million since 1984 in education.

"Every day, many students face educational hurdles that come from outside the classroom," said Neil Shorthouse, president, Communities In Schools of Georgia. "Communities In Schools sites across Georgia are helping to increase attendance and graduation rate of thousands of students yearly. Engaged parents, skilled volunteers and private sector resources, especially initiatives like AT&T Aspire, are keys to sustaining these programs which help our youth succeed in school and prepare for life."

Lacking a high school degree is a serious issue in the United States, where one in four students – more than 1 million each year – drops out, according to a March 19, 2012, report by Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America's Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education. AT&T is the lead sponsor of this report. Education experts believe that the lack of a high school degree significantly worsens job prospects in a rapidly changing, increasingly sophisticated job market.

And, if dropouts find jobs, they earn less. On average, a high school dropout earns 25 percent less during the course of his or her lifetime compared with a high school graduate and 57 percent less than a college graduate with a bachelor's degree.[1]

The situation poses a serious risk to American competitiveness as corporations struggle to find talent, especially in the math and sciences fields. The dropout rate, along with inadequate training and education, is keeping many high-paying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs from being filled. And the situation is expected to worsen as STEM jobs grow a projected 17 percent by 2018. Workers in these positions typically earn 26 percent more than those in non-STEM positions.[2]

As a result of an AT&T Aspire grant to Communities In Schools of Atlanta, Mays High School Student Rayshon Roundfield was able to work with a high school graduation coach, Harold Beasley. Beasley worked with Roundfield and his teachers to encourage the student to focus on his education and attend college while the student was facing personal struggles. Roundfield is now a Fort Valley State University student.   

"I never thought about going to college until I met Mr. Beasley. I appreciate everything Communities In Schools of Atlanta and Mr. Beasley did for me. They believed in me, and now I believe in myself," said Roundfield.

Although the problem is serious, there are signs of progress according to the report issued today:

• The high school graduation rate increased by 3.5 percentage points nationally from 2001 to 2009.
• In 2001, the rate was 72.0 percent; by 2009, it had risen to 75.5 percent.
• And the number of "dropout factory" high schools (a high school where 12th-grade enrollment is 60 percent or less than the 9th-grade enrollment three years previously) dropped from 2,007 to 1,550 from 2002 to 2010 – a 23 percent decrease.

The Georgia Aspire investment has amounted to more than $5 million since 2008. Organizations that have benefited include Berrien County Collaborative, Clarke County School District, Communities in Schools of Atlanta, Cook County Commission for Children and Youth, Dodge County Board of Education and Tech High School in Atlanta.