Romero responds to 45,000 Students will not graduate

Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, released the following statement in response to the 2008-2009 California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) results showing that 45,015 students from the class of 2009 will not graduate high school:

"Today's CAHSEE results underscore the importance of California meeting President Obama's challenge to Race to the Top and transform education.  As we embark on this journey we must remain diligent in our efforts to close the achievement gap, particularly with our African American, Latino and English-Learner students who continue to fall behind."

"This path of incremental progress leaves thousands of kids behind--45,015 to be exact.  That's 5,015 more students than the 40,000 prisoners the federal government is requiring California to release from prison or 30 percent of our current prison population.  We know that children who do not graduate from high school are more likely than any other group to end up incarcerated.  

"To reach our goals we must set ambitious targets for closing this achievement gap that has persisted for decades.  I am encouraged by the progress we have made towards preparing more students for graduation, but today California continues to leave too many behind."