By Juliette Jardim
March 8, 2010

Mayors at the forefront of education reform discussed the link between high school dropouts and crime in their cities at the School or the Streets: A Look at the High School Dropout Crisis and its Impact on Youth Crime workshop February 24. The session took place on the front end of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Leadership Meeting and was moderated by Rochester (NY) Mayor Robert Duffy, Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Criminal and Social Justice Standing Committee.

“We need to be graduating people without the need for remediation. This needs to be a core value because we’re spending $17 billion a year on post secondary courses at the remedial level,” said Greg Darnieder, Special Assistant and Advisor to the Secretary on the Secretary’s Initiative on College Access at the U.S. Department of Education, in his address to the mayors. Darnieder discussed his work in the Chicago Public Schools with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Duncan’s Education Agenda. He expanded upon the four assurances stressed by the Department of Education: 1) data; 2) standards; 3) quality teachers and leadership; and 4) recovering failing schools graduating less than 60 percent of students (also known as dropout factories). Darnieder stressed that schools need to focus not only on high school graduation, but on post'secondary success.

Dr. Sandra Webb, Deputy Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the U.S. Department of Justice, addressed the high school dropout crisis from the perspective of local law enforcement. Webb referred to several studies that link education attainment, crime reduction and savings in city funds. She noted that often times there are links between graduation and other aspects of city life, and emphasized the need for data in order to examine these connections, citing a study that linked high school dropouts to foreclosures. Finally, Webb encouraged the mayors to re-examine the role of their school resource officer.

“We really like the concept that a school resource officer is available to interact in a preventative effort. We want them to be a presence that acts as a positive role model for children, not just to keep them out of trouble but to get involved in their interests and after'school programs,” she said.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who has made education, public safety and jobs his top priorities, spoke about his efforts to combat high school dropout and education in his city. Nutter has made significant achievements in reducing the dropout and crime rates in Philadelphia, with several mayoral-led initiatives including his “Philly Goes to College” central clearinghouse in city hall for anyone who has an interest in going to college. Nutter has also secured 50 full-tuition scholarships for Philadelphia residents from higher education institutions in Philadelphia and played a central part in naming the school superintendant. Nutter stressed the correlation between dropouts and crime, citing that 80 percent of perpetrators are high school dropouts. He also insisted on the need for collaboration amongst federal agencies and local departments stressing, “Our police departments will not solve the crime problem by themselves.”

Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Children, Health and Human Services Standing Committee, spoke on his Providence “After School Zones.” Cicilline created these zones to create connections between the population and the school community. They consist of a broad range of after'school resources including public recreation centers and libraries in each neighborhood, so every middle school student has the opportunity to participate in after'school programs. The zones have a constant exchange of information between students’ after'school coordinators and their teachers to provide a complete set of wrap-around services for before, during and after'school. They have also created a set of early warning indicators for kids that are already off-track to get back on track. Cicilline focused on the need to intervene early saying, “You can’t wait until they’re getting ready to graduate and missing a few credits, you have to start earlier.”

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon stressed the need for early interventions, high expectations and teacher recruitment. He also focused on the need for communication amongst all adult influences in students’ lives including teachers, after'school program coordinators and police officers. He insisted that this communication is key not only for these stakeholders to stay informed about the students, but also to ensure that they incorporate their education material into other activities to demonstrate its relevancy. Cabaldon cited this communication as one of many key roles played by mayors without complete control over their school districts. In looking at federal grant applications, Cabaldon advised the federal officials to pay special attention to community and mayoral involvement.

“Schools need to have the mayor’s office committed and involved too. They’re not going to be as effective as in places where cities are real partners.”