[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE GRADUATION FOR ALL ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
4122, the Graduation for All Act of 2009 (GFA). I would like to thank 
Chairman George Miller for introducing this comprehensive bill that 
creates a three-year grant to help turn around our nation's lowest 
performing schools. This bill will help address some of the problems 
facing our schools and ensure that they are moving toward a goal of 
graduating all of our children.
  For far too long, schools have not been held accountable for ensuring 
that students graduate on time with a high school diploma. As a result, 
some students leave high school without a meaningful education that 
provides quality academic experiences sufficient for success in college 
or the workplace. Additionally, high school students are dropping out 
at an alarming rate. A recent study found that only 53 percent of all 
young people in the nation's 50 largest cities are graduating from high 
school on time. Regrettably, roughly 12 percent of all secondary 
schools in the United States produce approximately half of the nation's 
secondary school dropouts. In these secondary schools, known as 
``dropout factories,'' African American, Native American and Hispanic 
students have graduation rates that are 50 percent or below.
  Recently, strong reform efforts have targeted dropout factories and 
other low performing high schools, but it is obvious we have to do more 
and start our efforts earlier. More of an emphasis must be placed on 
the lowest performing middle schools. Too many students leave middle 
school with significant deficiencies such as being behind on English 
and Math proficiency; this leaves them ill prepared for the rigors of 
high school.
  Increasing graduation rates and improving academic achievement will 
enrich the lives of our children as well as strengthen our workforce 
and nation as a whole. A nation enjoys a competitive advantage in the 
global marketplace when it has a well educated and well trained 
workforce. If we expect to compete, we must ensure that all of our 
children receive a quality education.
  The Graduation for All Act will make education a priority and invests 
significant funding to accomplish several goals. First, it provides 
funding for schools to increase teacher and leadership effectiveness, 
hire highly qualified teachers, restructure schools, and transition 
students out of low performing schools into higher achieving schools. 
Second, the bill will fund initiatives that increase college access and 
completion such as dual enrollment and early college programs. Finally, 
the legislation includes provisions from the Every Student Counts Act 
(ESCA, H.R. 1569), which I introduced on March 17, 2009, that will 
require consistent and accurate counting of high school dropouts, 
require the establishment of aggressive and attainable graduation rate 
goals, and provide incentives to meet these goals.
  This bill will make significant strides toward improving student 
achievement, postsecondary readiness and graduation rates. It is my 
hope that Congress will move this legislation quickly and it will be 
signed into law. This will ensure that all of our nation's students 
will receive the kind of help and support required for them to obtain a 
quality education. Thank you.