Our League formed an Education Advocacy Committee in January 2006 to use our education program positions to be part of the solution to the high school dropout problem in our ten communities. This was carried out in support of the LWVC education advocacy position.

The strategy we developed was to gather information, to assess the problem and develop recommendations for advocacy. We began by compiling a list of questions to ask school administrators, community leaders and dropouts and their families. Included was a list of items for the administrators and community leaders to rank for their effectiveness in preventing student dropouts.

Two subcommittees were created. One included the cities and towns in the Pasadena Unified School District (Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre). The other targeted the Monrovia Unified School District (Monrovia). Although we did not create sub-committees, work was also begun in Alhambra, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, and Monterey Park.

The committee’s Findings and Recommendations were presented at an April, 2007 League Day. Findings

A joint progress report was reported in our Summer 2007 VOTER. Voter Page

Both subcommittees continue to work. In addition, we are partnering with LWV California to support dropout legislation currently being considered in our legislature. SB219 passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by the governor on Oct. 14, 2007.