Release Date: Jan 28, 2009
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Summary:
Representatives from the Montgomery County Out of School Youth Task Force detailed the success of the community's efforts to reduce the high school dropout rate during the January 27, 2009, General Session Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.

Michael Carter, Director of the Fast Forward Center at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, presented the dropout rates for Ohio's 10 largest counties from 2001 to 2007.  During the 2001 school year, Montgomery County had a 25.6% dropout rate, the second highest in Ohio.  In 2007, Montgomery County's dropout rate had fallen to 11.6%.  Ohio Department of Education statistics show Montgomery County continues to have the most significant dropout reduction rate of the 10 largest Ohio counties.

The Montgomery County Out of School Youth Task Force is made up of leaders in business, communities, county government and education.  It was formed in 1998 to help out-of-school youth receive a second chance at education and skills training.

At Tuesday's BCC Meeting, students from ISUS (Improved Solutions for Urban Systems), Life Skills of Dayton, Mound Street Academies, and MVCTC-Youth Connections shared their accomplishments since receiving a second chance through the Montgomery County Out of School Youth Task Force.  Since 2002, those four schools have graduated 1,619 students.  Superintendents from several Montgomery County school districts also attended Tuesday's meeting.