Diplomas Now was born from research conducted by the Philadelphia Education Fund (the Ed Fund) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 2006 that followed approximately 13,000 sixth graders in the 1996-97 school year through to 2004, a year past expected graduation. Among the more than 20 variables screened (including standardized test scores, overage, gender, socio-economic status, and special education status), the four variables that emerged as most predictive of student drop out were:
- Low attendance (less than 80%)
- Poor behavior (three or more negative behavior
marks)
- Course failure in literacy
- Course failure in Math
The research showed that students with any of the Early Warning Indicators have only a 10-20% chance of graduating from high school. These four variables most predictive of students dropping out of school are called the Early Warning Indicators or ABCs (Attendance, Behavior, Course Passage).
The Ed Fund then created the Early Warning Indicators Project to systematically combat the ABCs in the middle grades.
In 2008-09, the Ed Fund and JHU brought on two new partners, City Year of Greater Philadelphia (CYGP) and Communities In Schools of Philadelphia (CISP) to further the work in Philadelphia. From this local partnership grew a national initiative, Diplomas Now (DN), which is replicating the work Philadelphia-based in nine high-need urban school districts across the country. In 2009, the Philadelphia collaborative re-named its work to coincide with the national movement.
In Philadelphia, the impact of this work is impressive. In 2009-10, the three middle grades schools (Feltonville, Marshall, and Cooke) where Diplomas Now operates saw significant improvements. At the end of the school year, 56% fewer students were off-track in attendance, 53% fewer students were off-track in behavior, 82% fewer students were off-track in math, and 78% fewer students were off-track in literacy.
> Read our most recent program results.
With strong results in place, the collaboration engaged in a partnership with the School District to expand Diplomas Now to several high schools. Diplomas Now is also being replicated in school districts nationally with funding from an i3 grant and other funders.
Read more about the national Diplomas Now initiative.