Pushed Out: Youth Voices on the Dropout Crisis in Philadelphia

• NCJ Number: 237546
• Author(s): Ebony Baylis; Tiffany Burgos; Tabitha Burton; Mark Davis; Raheem Gladney; Linda Hang; Alex Lopez; Jesus Muniz; David Overton; Ramon Rodriguez; Steven Whaley; Branden Williams
• Date Published: February 2011
• Length: 37 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Project U-Turn
• Corporate Author: Youth United for Change
• Sale Source: Youth United for Change
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Youth who have been involuntarily forced out of Philadelphia's public school system ("push-outs") comment on issues they believe are related to the "push-out" crisis and the reforms needed to address it.

Abstract

The "Push Chapter," which developed this document, is a group of members of Youths United for Change (YUC), an organization of youth who are either out-of-school or are students at alternative schools and programs. The YUC is working to improve the Philadelphia school system for current and future students, so that they do not get "pushed out" of school. Four major themes are viewed as underlying conditions that contribute to the push-out crisis: boredom and engagement, teaching and classroom learning, disciplines and climate, and out-of-school issues. First, both the material and the way that students are taught are alienating and disengaging; keeping students interested and excited in the learning process would help keep youth in school. Second, regarding teaching and classroom learning, the most recurrent problems are poor relationships with teachers and falling behind academically. Positive and productive relationships with teachers is most likely to be achieved through one-on-one and small-group work. Third, many youth are victims of harsh school disciplinary systems that limit education opportunities, make students feel unwelcome, and gradually push them out of the public school system. Fourth, some students leave school because of problems outside of school; however, although unsupportive parents do contribute to youth leaving school, problems at school were the prevalent contributors to school push-out. Based on YUC's research, it has developed local, State and Federal policy recommendations intended to address the push-out crisis. These recommendations are presented in this report. The primary research was a survey of 273 push-out students and focus groups on issues revealed in the survey. Appended career and technical education platform