Dropout Prevention Begins with Student Input

Engage the community, get the word out, but above all, find out what students have to say. Those were the goals set today at a dropout prevention summit in Nashville.

A panel of Metro teenagers spoke to the group of community leaders, educators and businesspeople. Their presence drove home the point that the students programs aim to keep in school are often left out of the planning process.

Reverend Neely Williams facilitated the summit. She says the community can’t successfully work to reduce the dropout rate unless students’ concerns are heard and understood.

“It’s a voice that says, ’these are the things I need, this is what I’m experiencing everyday,’ and we need to bridge the gap from our perception of how things are to their reality of how things are.”

Participants at the summit called for a survey of Metro students. The results would then be used to develop a plan for further action.