Now comes another study, this one from Harvard University, to remind us that the racial gap in graduation rates remains stubbornly, unacceptably large. “Confronting the Graduation Rate Crisis in the South” reports that in Florida 45 percent of black students graduated in four years; 52 percent of Latinos; 54 percent of Native Americans; 63 percent of whites; and 80 percent of Asians.
The study’s recommendations include the usual references to better tracking and more support for dropout prevention programs.
Here’s a suggestion. Use the Asian model. It works even when students don’t speak English natively. It’s called family, work ethic and expectations of success. And government can’t parcel out any of it.