RETHINKING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND TRENDS

RETHINKING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND TRENDS

RETHINKING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND TRENDS

We are greatly appreciative for the data, advice, and comments we received
from a variety of people. Of course, no one other than the authors is responsible
for the product. Julie Yates at Bureau of Labor Statistics kindly provided
some NLSY results. Census Bureau staff also provided information and data
(Kurt Bauman, Greg Weyland, Carol Gunlicks). We also benefited from discussions
with and information from NCES staff (Chris Chapman, Lee Hoffman,
Jeffrey Owings, Tom Snyder, Marilyn Seastrom). Stephen Ruffini from American
Council on Education provided GED data. Harry Holzer and Henry Chen provided
tabulations of NLSY97 data. Cliff Adelman shared his knowledge of and
tabulations from the NELS data. Our colleagues at EPI (Jin Dai, Danielle Gao,
Yulia Fungard, and David Ratner) developed and tabulated data for us and
helped prepare presentations. Russ Rumberger, Paul Barton, and Richard
Rothstein provided a detailed review and many insights. We also received useful
comments and information from Cynthia Lim, Leslie Scott, Bill Spriggs, Robert
Balfanz, Daniel Losen, Arturo Vargas, Chris Swanson, Bella Rosenberg, Walt
Haney, Rob Warren, Ed Croft, Elaine Allensworth, Eileen Foley, Martin Carnoy,
Gary Orfield, Cyndi Holleman, Charles Kamasaki, Melissa Lazarin, Delia Pompa,
Raul Gonzales, and Tom Mortenson. We also greatly appreciate the work of the
EPI publications, policy, and communications departments, particularly Ellen
Levy, Ross Eisenbrey, Nancy Coleman, and Stephaan Harris, for their work in
preparing this report and doing outreach to the media. Last, Larry wishes to
thank Alyce Anderson for her continuing support of all of his activities.

Lawrence Mishel