Too Big to Be Seen: The Invisible Dropout Crisis in Boston and America

Public awareness. The first goal was to foster consensus among stakeholders and the public about the urgency of the problem. We conducted multi-faceted research and published the results in Too Big To Be Seen: The Dropout Crisis in Boston and America. YTTF members actively participated in the research. This report, cited in the Boston Globe , local policy briefs, and grant-making documents, is a primer on the dropout issue in Boston. The four sections of Too Big include quantitative and qualitative research, systems analysis, and a set of six recommendations developed by the task force:

1.Refine dropout data collection and deepen the analysis.
2.Develop early intervention for struggling students and outreach for dropouts.
3.Increase the number and variety of alternative education and training opportunities.
4.Create school climates that are welcoming and respectful.
5.Increase coordination among schools, alternative programs and city agencies.
6.Develop revenue strategies.