CALIFORNIA — New Study Shows Dropouts Cost the State $1 Billion
Sep 24th 2009
Law enforcement leaders call on governor to sign bill that will
help raise graduation rates, cut crime
Contact: Jennifer Ortega, (916) 837-3904, jortega@calfightcrime.org
Ashley Nasser, (404) 885-9596 ext. 4512, ashleyn@allisonpr.com
OAKLAND — Dropouts cost California $1.1 billion annually in juvenile crime costs alone, according to a new study from the California Dropout Research Project. The new research also concludes that cutting the dropout rate would prevent thousands of juvenile crimes in California. In 2007, there were more than 235,000 juvenile arrests statewide.
Pointing to this research, local law enforcement leaders and crime victims are calling on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign dropout-prevention legislation.
The study titled "High School Dropouts and the Economic Losses from Juvenile Crime in California" is the first to show the immediate public safety and economic impact of California's high dropout rates. Previous studies estimated the costs to California from adult crime, as well as welfare costs, and wages and taxes lost during dropouts' adult years. The study comes at a time when the state is seeking ways to reduce overall spending as well as the prison population.
"Dropout prevention is crime prevention. Schools need better tools for identifying potential dropouts so they can target interventions at the kids who need them most," said Los Angeles Sheriff Leroy Baca, Chairman of the Board of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS - a bipartisan, anti-crime organization led by thousands of sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys and victims of violence.
According to 2007-08 data from the California Department of Education, the state's average dropout was 18.9 percent.
"This study demonstrates the immediate impact dropouts have on both public safety and the economy," said California Dropout Research Project Director Russell W. Rumberger. "If California could reduce the dropout rate, it could subsequently reduce the juvenile crime rate and its staggering impact on the state budget. Cutting the dropout rate in half would prevent 30,000 juvenile crimes each year."
The state now has a chance to pass legislation that would reduce the dropout rate. Senate Bill 651 (Romero and Steinberg) recently passed the Legislature with strong bipartisan support and is awaiting the governor's signature. The bill would require the California Department of Education to produce an annual report on dropouts that would highlight dropout trends and help identify early warning signs, like truancy and grade repetition, so that schools can effectively target interventions to help ensure that students at risk of dropping out don't fall through the cracks.
More than 130 law enforcement leaders and crime victims statewide have signed a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger supporting SB 651. Click here for a copy of the letter with a list of signatories included.
"I call on the Governor to sign SB 651, which will help reduce dropouts and ultimately cut crime," Baca said.
If enacted, this measure would also maximize the effective use of California's improving educational data system, and help keep public attention on the dropout problem and what progress is being made in addressing the crisis. It also would finally implement legislation enacted two years ago to discourage schools from "pushing out" struggling students - including by letting them drop out - in order to boost school-wide test scores. The bill would remove an unnecessary barrier to incorporating dropout rates and test scores of students who transfer to alternative schools into school Academic Performance Index rankings.
You can download the 4-page report brief here.
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CDRP Policy Brief #16 - High School Dropouts and The Economic Losses from Juvenile Crime in California
SB 651 (Romero & Steinberg) Bill Summary
Letter to the Governor Signed by over 130 Law Enforcement Leaders & Crime Victims
Statewide Press Release
Localized Press Releases and Co-Signatories of Letter to the Governor
Bay Area Release
Bay Area - List of Co-Signatories
Central Coast Release
Central Coast - List of Co-Signatories
Central Valley Release
Central Valley - List of Co-Signatories
Inland Empire Release
Inland Empire - List of Co-Signatories
Los Angeles County Release
Los Angeles County - List of Co-Signatories
Northern California Release
Northern California - List of Co-Signatories
Orange County Release
Orange County - List of Co-Signatories
Sacramento Region Release
Sacramento Region - List of Co-Signatories
San Diego County Release
San Diego County - List of Co-Signatories
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About the California Dropout Research Project
Based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, the California Dropout Research Project began in December 2006. The purpose of the project is to synthesize existing research and undertake new research to inform policymakers and the public about the nature of - and potential solutions to - California's dropout problem. CDRP is funded by the James Irvine Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Walter S. Johnson Foundation. For more information about CDRP, including copies of the complete series of the Project's research, please visit the CDRP website at: http://cdrp.ucsb.edu/
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS California is a bipartisan, non-profit, anti-crime organization led by hundreds sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys, and victims of violence. Its mission is to take a critical look at the research about what really works to keep kids from becoming criminals. Among the strategies proven to be effective are preschool, after-school, dropout-prevention, child abuse and neglect prevention programs, and intensive interventions for juvenile offenders. www.fightcrime.org/ca
