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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2003

News Release

NEA President Reg Weaver Applauds "Graduation for All" 

Legislation Would Provide Academic Interventions for At-Risk Students

Washington, D.C. - “NEA applauds Reps. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and Susan Davis (D-CA) on the introduction of H.R. 3085, ‘Graduation for All.’ The bill will provide schools and districts with resources to increase graduation rates.  The legislation promotes interventions that have been proven to be successful in improving student achievement, decreasing dropouts, and promoting college attendance.
 
“This legislation is important since failure to graduate from high school has serious economic and social consequences for individual students as well as the country.  Recent studies show that each class of high school dropouts costs the nation more than $200 billion. These costs include losses in earnings and tax revenue as well as spending for social support programs.  High school dropouts have an earnings disadvantage that tends to remain with them throughout their lives.  Among inmates of state and federal prisons, nearly two-thirds failed to complete high school.
 
“NEA believes this legislation will provide support that is long overdue to older, at-risk students.  The nation cannot say it is improving education while continuing to ignore the needs of older students.” 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.