Current environment

2. Current environment • State and local fiscal crisis situation + local lag • Relatively minor federal investments, limited state/local match • Seeming affection for categorical programs • Devastatingly high unemployment => very limited labor market experience of young adults • Persistent achievement gaps, high dropout rates • Prevention & enforcement as articles of faith – what place for intervention? • Overall: lack of powerful driving policy concept(s) National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

3. To tackle dropout / DY issue fully, every city needs to put in place… • Understanding of issue as a community problem + room for all relevant leaders • Early warning systems • Integration of education & other data systems • Means to engage parents and stakeholders to set high common aspirations • Efforts to transform struggling high schools • Flexible portfolio of quality options offering rigor, relevance, relationships, and future focus National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

4. Promising local initiatives / policies • Leaders setting, following through on aspirational goals • Tangible cross-system collaboration efforts • Portals and cross-referrals • Transition-age youth task force & plan • Local projects seeded/supported via state policy • Supported by intermediary/lead agency + data sharing • Local assessment of need & expansion of pathways National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

5. Policy recommendations Immediate: • Direct job creation funding to local gov’ts, e.g., modified CDBG formula, in partnership with WIBs • Fine tuning: “Fast track” authority; non-supplantation; focus on groups experiencing particularly high unemployment Reauthorizations – priority considerations: • Sharpen policy regarding federal, state, local roles • Multiple pathways to HS and postsecondary graduation • Reciprocity: Jobs linked to staying in school; community service by, not simply services for • Comprehensive planning a la Youth Promise Act • Bridge programs for age of transition a la Chafee Act National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

6. Selected Current Resources Local Programs & Initiatives • The State of City Leadership for Children and Families 2009 • Identifies the nation's most cutting-edge city strategies to help children and families thrive • Preventing Gang Violence/Building Communities Toolkit • Essential elements of a local gang violence prevention action plan and blended prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies. • Setting the Stage for New High Schools • Outlines seven key policy conditions that facilitate the expansion of alternatives and options for dropouts and other students who struggle in traditional high school settings All available online at www.nlc.org/iyef National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families

7. Selected Current Resources Analyses & Policy Recommendations • Consequences of Dropping Out of High School (national and local) and Left Behind in America • Available online at http://www.clms.neu.edu • Youth at High Risk of Disconnection: 2008 Data Update of Connected by 25 • Available online http://tinyurl.com/y9f525t • NLC job creation letter to President Obama • Available online at www.nlc.org • Graduating America(Jobs for the Future & Everyone Graduates Center) • Available online at http://tinyurl.com/yfvp8tl National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families