School Reform & Dropout Prevention

NWLC has worked since 1972 to ensure equal educational opportunities and has worked since Congress enacted Title IX to advance and protect the rights of students in educational institutions. NWLC believes that all children should have equal access to high quality education programs and that federal education policy must ensure that all students can benefit equally from rigorous academic standards. We advocate for education reforms that will help improve graduation rates and post-secondary success for all students, with a particular focus on girls of color, who are dropping out of school at high rates and who are often overlooked in conversations about school reform.

Resources Educators & Policymakers:

• ESEA Data Should Be Cross-Tabulated by Race/Ethnicity and Gender
• ESEA Reauthorization Must Address Access to Education for Pregnant and Parenting Students
• What Would a Successful, Safe, and Healthy School Look Like For Girls? 
• Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation
• When Girls Don't Graduate, We All Fail
• A Pregnancy Test for Schools: The Impact of Education Laws on Pregnant and Parenting Students

Recent Cases & Legislation:

• Letter to Senate HELP Committee: Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013 
• Letter to House of Representatives: Student Success Act
• Letter to Congress: Support the Pregnant and Parenting Student Provisions of the Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013
• Pregnant and Parenting Student Provisions of the Strengthening America's Schools Act of 2013
• Letter to Secretary Duncan Regarding ESEA Waiver Applications