A Dropout Crisis for Girls

How Schools Can Help

Interventions to address the dropout crisis must be tailored to the different needs of boys and girls of all races and ethnicities, based on the distinct experiences of these students and the enhanced research and data collection recommended by the report. Policymakers, educators, students, and parents all have a role to play in ensuring that students are provided the support they need to stay in school. In addition to our latest report, Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation, we invite you to download:

Helping Latinas Succeed in School: How Schools Can Address Barriers to High School Graduation
How to Keep Girls in School: Recommendations to Address the Dropout Crisis. NWLC offers recommendations that should be implemented by policymakers; school personnel; and students, parents, and their advocates.

A fully comprehensive dropout prevention strategy also requires:

Combating sexual harassment in schools. Both boys and girls report that they drop out in part because they do not feel safe at school. Download a fact sheet on sexual harassment for schools or for students.
Providing better support for pregnant and parenting students. Pregnancy and parenting responsibilities play a significant role in many girls' decisions to drop out of school.
Ensuring equal access for girls to career and technical education classes. These classes provide training for high-skill, high-wage jobs. Offering career education programs that emphasize the link between academic work, college success, and careers has been proven to reduce dropout rates.
Ensuring equal access for girls to after-school programs, including athletics programs. Studies have shown that participation in after-school programs improves graduation rates and academic achievement.

Get more resources on dropout prevention and our latest report on the Latina dropout crisis.