Brown: New Dropout Numbers Underscore Crisis
May 22, 2009
Council Member Peter Brown addressed the press today at City Hall as part of a press conference organized by Children at Risk, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the quality of life for Houston's children. After reviewing data from 50 Independent School Districts and 130 high schools in the Greater Houston Area, the organization discovered only 58.5 percent of our students will graduate within six years. Council Member Brown's statement below:
First, let me say I'm grateful to Children at Risk for putting together this important study. They have worked diligently to provide more proof of what many of us have been saying for a long time: there's a crisis in Harris County and it's education.
We simply can't give into the naysayers, to those who want to make us believe there is no crisis. The role education plays in our economy, society and public safety is so great, and the consequences of neglecting our schools so terrible, there can be no excuse for continuing to ignore this important issue.
If we're going to really address education, if we're going to provide real assistance to teachers, we need to know what the real dropout numbers are. We have nothing to gain and so much to lose if we ignore the facts.
A dropout in Harris County earns 30% less than someone with a high school education. He or she is more likely to be in prison. It hurts our economy, it hurts our families and it compromises our public safety.
I have never suggested that the next mayor should personally run the schools. But I do believe the next Mayor should look at this drop out rate; step up with new ideas; show real leadership; and be accountable to the public for our troubled school system. As Mayor, I would consider all options to address the issue that Children at Risk has brought to light.
Council Member Peter Brown is a third-generation Houstonian who has devoted his life to building a better Houston. As a dedicated family man, with five children and 15 grandchildren, Peter is deeply committed to building a safer Houston with a stronger sense of community. As a small businessman and urban planner he has worked in over 45 Houston neighborhoods and 27 American cities, creating a sense of community with each new project. After serving the community as a businessman and private citizen for most of his life, Peter took his passion for Houston into the political sphere three years ago, winning an at-large position on the Houston City Council. As a civic leader, he’s been a tireless advocate for economic development, governmental reform, enhancing the quality of life, eradicating blight and making the neighborhoods safer.
CHILDREN AT RISK is a nonprofit organization leading the way to improving the quality of life for Greater Houston children through research, collaboration, advocacy and legal services. CHILDREN AT RISK educates the community and public officials based on its groundbreaking research, Growing Up in Houston, which tracks children’s health, safety, education, and economic conditions. By understanding children’s needs and speaking out on their behalf, CHILDREN AT RISK drives change.