Recognizes the importance of increasing the foster youth high school graduation rate.
Expresses concern that such rate is currently too low.
Supports efforts to improve such rate, including increased coordination between child welfare and educational agencies.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 733 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 733
Recognizing the importance of improving the high school graduation rate
of foster youth.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 10, 2007
Mr. Weller of Illinois (for himself, Mr. McDermott, Mr. English of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, and Mrs. Bachmann) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of improving the high school graduation rate
of foster youth.
Whereas an average of about 7,000 students become dropouts from high school in
the United States every school day;
Whereas, in an average week during the 2006 school year, about 8 percent of
youth ages 16 through 19 were neither enrolled in school nor working;
Whereas about 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year;
Whereas about 84 percent of people in the United States 25 years and older have
completed high school, but only about half of foster youth graduate from
high school;
Whereas many children entering foster care may have educational deficits and
therefore need additional attention in order to graduate in a timely
manner;
Whereas for foster youth aging out of the foster care system, 1 in 4 will be
incarcerated within the first 2 years after leaving the system and over
1 in 5 will become homeless at some time after age 18;
Whereas high school dropouts are more likely than graduates to be periodically
unemployed, to go on government assistance, or to become incarcerated;
Whereas median earnings in 2006 for those who have not completed high school
were $18,641 per year, and median earnings for those completing high
school was 40 percent higher at $26,123 per year;
Whereas, in 2006, the poverty rate for those with less than a high school
education was about twice as high as for those who have completed high
school--23.7 percent versus 11.5 percent;
Whereas graduating from high school leads to higher lifetime earnings, better
health, fewer teen births, parents who raise healthier and better
educated children, lower crime, less reliance on government programs and
services, and higher participation in civic activities such as voting
and volunteering;
Whereas countless social workers, judges, foster parents, advocates, and others
are working tirelessly to help foster youth;
Whereas the months of September and October mark the start of a new school year;
and
Whereas the start of the school year is an opportunity to encourage all students
to stay in school at least until graduating from high school: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of increasing the rate at
which foster youth graduate from high school;
(2) expresses concern that the current high school
graduation rate of foster youth is too low; and
(3) supports efforts to improve the high school graduation
rate of foster youth, including through increased coordination
between child welfare and educational agencies.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2110)
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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