John Bridgeland leads efforts to reduce dropout rates



Based on one of the most extensive surveys ever of American high school dropouts, the report, Bridgeland said, "reveals both the depth of the tragedy and the hope that we can do better as a nation to help more youth graduate from high school." Among the alarming findings: each year almost one third of all public high school students and nearly half of all blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans fail to graduate from public high school with their class; a surprising number were getting grades of "C" or better; most say they regret dropping out and may not have if circumstances were different, and much of the national graduation rate data is flawed. John Bridgeland of Ohio was the first head of President George W. Bush's USA Freedom Corps.

John Bridgeland leads efforts to reduce dropout rates

Bridgeland leads efforts to reduce dropout rates
BY PAULA MAXWELL | COMMUNITY PRESS CONTRIBUTOR

"Time" and "Oprah" are among the many media outlets spotlighting the high school dropout dilemma in America following release of the report, "The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts," co-written by John Bridgeland, who grew up in Indian Hill.

Commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has committed more than $1 billion to educational initiatives, the report was released by Civic Enterprises LLC last month. The Washington-based research firm is headed by Bridgeland, who is president and CEO and a former Bush administration official.

Bridgeland said the report is grounded in reality and hopeful, expresses the notion that the problem is actually solvable, and offers fairly straightforward debate and suggestions to fix the problem.
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Based on one of the most extensive surveys ever of American high school dropouts, the report, Bridgeland said, "reveals both the depth of the tragedy and the hope that we can do better as a nation to help more youth graduate from high school."

The survey, focus groups and face to face interviews in 25 locations in the U.S. were conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates last summer and fall among a group of 467 economically and racially diverse people ages 16-24.

Bridgeland emphasized that there needs to be a connection between the voices and insights and the policy set forth to address the issue.

Among the alarming findings: each year almost one third of all public high school students and nearly half of all blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans fail to graduate from public high school with their class; a surprising number were getting grades of "C" or better; most say they regret dropping out and may not have if circumstances were different, and much of the national graduation rate data is flawed.

"Our objective is to vault this issue to the top of the domestic agenda and to engage educators, policymakers, the media, non-profit and foundation leaders, business executives and others in addressing the dropout epidemic."

Bridgeland believes the reason the issue is getting so much attention is because of the severity of a problem that was largely hidden from the public.

"What was missing from the dropout debate was the perspective of the dropouts themselves," said Bridgeland, who graduated from Indian Hill High School in 1978, where he was student council president and an accomplished tennis player.

He described Indian Hill as "one of the most beautiful, pleasant and peaceful places" he knows.

Bridgeland said he was drawn to social service as a career.

"Our parents fostered a strong interest in public service by example."

Son of Jim and Peggy Bridgeland of Brill Road, John is the youngest of five with four older sisters: Alicia, a doctoral candidate at Xavier and a former Indian Hill school board member; Deborah, a nurse; Cynthia, a teacher at Indian Hill High School, and Rebecca, a former elementary school teacher and homemaker.

Jim, an attorney, served for many years as mayor of Indian Hill and as a member of the village council. He spent several years as president of the school board. Peggy was described by her son as the "consummate volunteer." They have 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Of his son's success Jim said, "We're very proud and pleased that he seems to be having an impact and a growing interest in solving some of the social problems such as the school dropout issue."

His sister, Alicia said, "I am not surprised that John is doing such good things. We are all very proud of him."

Bridgeland remembers growing up as a child on Drake Road across from the high school.

"The Indian Hill playing field was my community center as a kid. Life in Indian Hill was a defining moment in my life for growth and happiness."

Civic Enterprises LLC is a public policy firm founded in 2004 that helps corporations, non-profits, foundations universities and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies. With offices in Washington, D.C., Ohio and other areas, the firm draws on some of the best minds in the country.

Clients include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Battelle, Pacific Resarch Center, International Freedom Center, Bowdoin, and others

Among the wide range of projects the firm has undertaken is one for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify and compile data on the rare Ivory-billed woodpecker. A recovery team is involved in Arkansas.

Bridgeland said ironically, he became interested in ornithology through his father many years ago.

Most recently, Bridgeland has been busy doing interviews on the subject of the dropout dilemma with everyone from David Brodeur of the Washington Post to National Public Radio and Reuters.

"We are trying to achieve a national wakeup call here."

When this story was posted in July 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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