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[gabrielcawff-blog]

National Dropout rate STATISTICS!!

http://boostup.org/en/facts/statistics

Strengths: This web page is quite well organized and provides clear, organized access to the statistics regarding the high school drop out rate.

Weaknesses: Like any source based completely on facts/stats, this article lacks context. There should be some sort of introductory paragraph to the diagram.

Opportunities for Improvement: I think that adding another dimension by including drop out rate relative to socio-economic class would be greatly helpful. Sure we can assume that poor people have a harder time staying in school but I would like to have a better idea of what the actual number are!

Threats: This article fails to provide any solutions. Although it just provides facts, it needs to contain some direction for where one should go next. 

[gabrielcawff-blog]

In Oakland, School Officials Tackle Rising Suspensions

Link   The article is only 6:41 radio program so I encourage you to listen! 

Oakland Unified School District has adopted a new approach to dealing with suspended students switching from a punitive disciplinary system to a restorative-justice system that focuses on learning about the root causes of issues as well as forgiveness. In general, the district is doing everything it can to try to curb suspension rates.

I whole-heartily support this approach to dealing with students from disadvantaged communities (an alarming percentage of the suspended students in Oakland are african american) as I feel like punitive justice is really just a long downward spiral which eventually leads to prison. If they succeed in Oakland with this new approach, it will hopefully lead to similar changes all across the country.