Polycom Special Event

Interview with
 Bill Milliken

Founder of Communities in Schools and author of The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic!    

Date:  November 18, 2008, 10:30-11:30 ET (9:30 CT, 8:30 MT, 7:30 PT)

Cost: Free, compliments of Polycom, Inc.

Audience: School Administrators, School Boards, Teachers, Parents, Community Leaders

Partners: Author coordination/liaison: Marci Powell, Polycom, Inc., Event coordination: Sue Porter, Polycom Education Consultant, Bridging: Arnie Comer, Macomb ISD.

In Bill Milliken's book, The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic, he states, "Thanks to this surge in media attention, millions of Americans were hearing for the first time that we do indeed have a “dropout epidemic” in this country.  And they were learning about the grim real-life consequences, in a new century that demands workplace skills that most often require at least post-high-school study." Are educators fully aware of the extent of this problem? 

Mr. Milliken goes on to say, "America’s three and a half million dropouts ages 16 to 25 are truly have-nots:  They do not have a high school diploma, and as a result they have little hope for a decent future.  They are far more likely than their peers to be unemployed, live in poverty, experience chronic poor health, depend upon social services, and go to jail. Four out of every 10 young adult dropouts receive some type of government assistance. A dropout is more than eight times as likely to be in jail or prison as a person with at least a high school diploma.  Half of all prison inmates are high school dropouts.  In fact, on any given day, more young male dropouts are in prison than at a job."

Join us for an interactive videoconference with Bill Milliken as we dialogue about this critical issue for our schools and communities.

Register by completing the online form and choosing Special Events in the drop down menu. Questions? Email Sue Porter at sporter4@comcast.net

Schools not able to participate due to the limit of 8 sites will be able to access a live stream of the event by emailing sporter4@comcast.net

Participating Sites

6.North Canton Schools, North Canton, OH

7.Nebraska Distance Learning Council

8.