[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 733 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 733

Recognizing the importance of improving the high school graduation rate 
                            of foster youth.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 2007

  Mr. Weller of Illinois (for himself, Mr. McDermott, Mr. English of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, and Mrs. Bachmann) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                               and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the importance of improving the high school graduation rate 
                            of foster youth.

Whereas an average of about 7,000 students become dropouts from high school in 
        the United States every school day;
Whereas, in an average week during the 2006 school year, about 8 percent of 
        youth ages 16 through 19 were neither enrolled in school nor working;
Whereas about 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year;
Whereas about 84 percent of people in the United States 25 years and older have 
        completed high school, but only about half of foster youth graduate from 
        high school;
Whereas many children entering foster care may have educational deficits and 
        therefore need additional attention in order to graduate in a timely 
        manner;
Whereas for foster youth aging out of the foster care system, 1 in 4 will be 
        incarcerated within the first 2 years after leaving the system and over 
        1 in 5 will become homeless at some time after age 18;
Whereas high school dropouts are more likely than graduates to be periodically 
        unemployed, to go on government assistance, or to become incarcerated;
Whereas median earnings in 2006 for those who have not completed high school 
        were $18,641 per year, and median earnings for those completing high 
        school was 40 percent higher at $26,123 per year;
Whereas, in 2006, the poverty rate for those with less than a high school 
        education was about twice as high as for those who have completed high 
        school--23.7 percent versus 11.5 percent;
Whereas graduating from high school leads to higher lifetime earnings, better 
        health, fewer teen births, parents who raise healthier and better 
        educated children, lower crime, less reliance on government programs and 
        services, and higher participation in civic activities such as voting 
        and volunteering;
Whereas countless social workers, judges, foster parents, advocates, and others 
        are working tirelessly to help foster youth;
Whereas the months of September and October mark the start of a new school year; 
        and
Whereas the start of the school year is an opportunity to encourage all students 
        to stay in school at least until graduating from high school: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of increasing the rate at 
        which foster youth graduate from high school;
            (2) expresses concern that the current high school 
        graduation rate of foster youth is too low; and
            (3) supports efforts to improve the high school graduation 
        rate of foster youth, including through increased coordination 
        between child welfare and educational agencies.
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