Youth disconnect: "Youth between the ages of 16-24 who are neither working nor in school. Disconnected youth are adrift at societies margins, unmoored from systems and structures that confer knowledge, skills, identity and purpose."
National average of youth disconnect: 14.7%
Ed reformers promise excellence, college readiness, bright futures, disciplined lives, meaningful lives, intellectual growth and the ability to make students' dreams come true.
Let's compare U.S. cities with the most charters to rates of youth disconnect (YD) in those cities:
CITY % of Charters Black YD Latino YD White YD
NOLA 92 27.5 n/a 10.5
Detroit 51 25.3 19.2 13.5
D.C. 43 19 11.7 7
Indianapolis 28 22.3 n/a 14
Philadelphia 28 19.7 19 8
Phoenix 27 28.2 23.5 13.3
We can conclude that ed reform doesn't seem to be working. Perhaps this is because ed reform emphasizes an elitist college-for-all agenda which demonizes teachers and unions in the process.
Instead, ed reformers should consider following Measure for America's suggestions, which include providing wrap-around services for disconnected youth, such as medical care and therapeutic counseling. Another Measure for America suggestion is to bring back vocational training in schools.
But can you imagine Campbell Brown advocating for shop classes? The horror!
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