EVERY school day in Virginia, 55 students drop out of school.

On Wednesday, October 20th, 2010, the Legal Aid Justice Center and Master of Ceremonies John Grisham will present Dropped Out, a program that examines the school drop-out crisis, describes incentives that cause it, explains strategies to address it, and discusses ways for concerned community members to get involved.

While Virginians can be proud of the state’s bold leadership on graduation rate accountability, the problem is far from solved. Dropout statistics still show stark racial and economic disparities in both graduation rates and diploma awards. Recent unemployment data also indicate that the economic recession hits America’s dropouts the hardest. And the country’s student discipline rates are at an all-time high, a fact that contributes to the school to prison pipeline and affects the health of all our communities.

The evening’s events will include the film Pushed, a student-produced documentary that highlights the effects of this crisis in our nation’s schools as seen through the eyes of students, parents and teachers in a Connecticut school division. The film will be followed by a panel discussion by education experts, as well as our special guest panelist, Congressman Bobby Scott.

Please join us for a crucial and compelling discussion of  this school drop-out crisis, and what we can do to improve public education for Virginia's students. Our program will be held at the Paramount Theater on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. Private reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the program to follow at 7:00 p.m.

Please click here for more event details and sponsorship opportunities. You may also purchase your tickets online through a secure credit card transaction via Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.

For more information regarding the public event or the private reception, please contact Susan Kruse, Donor Relations Manager, at  (434) 977-0553 ext. 101, or email susan@justice4all.org.