In 2005, the Philadelphia Education Fund (Ed Fund) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) tracked 13,000 students from sixth grade through one year past on-time graduation. This groundbreaking research identified four Early Warning Indicators that correlate most strongly with students dropping out of school:poor attendance, poor behavior, a failing grade in math or literacy. The Ed Fund and JHU moved the research into action and created an Early Warning Indicator System for middle and high schools called Diplomas Now. A partnership among the School District of Philadelphia, the Ed Fund, JHU, City Year, and Communities In Schools, Diplomas Now designs, implements, and monitors a comprehensive, three-tiered set of interventions for students who demonstrate Early Warning Indicators in project schools.
Diplomas Now is being replicated in five other cities: Chicago, Los Angeles,San Antonio, and New Orleans. The data below demonstrates the project’s promising results in year one of the full partnership.
