Today, Baltimore’s attendance and graduation rates are the highest in 10 years; enrollment rates are the highest in 15 years; and drop out rates are the lowest since the State began reporting in 1996. The roots of this progress began in 2001 with Baltimore’s initial high school reform effort that led to: the reconfiguration of most of the city’s neighborhood high schools into smaller themed schools; the establishment of new innovation schools in cooperation with a variety of local and national operators; and a dramatic shift in the secondary school academic program for principals, teachers and students.

Over the past two years, new school expansion has continued with up to 24 new secondary transformation schools (grades 6-12) slated to open by 2011. These schools offer a college and/or career preparation focus supported by external operators/partners. All of these efforts have been generously supported by a group of local and national foundations, with the Fund serving as fiscal intermediary and key reform partner.

Another factor in these improving numbers is Baltimore’s efforts to ensure that all its students graduate from high school ready to succeed in college. The Fund has long collaborated with various partners throughout Maryland to promote dropout awareness and prevention. For example:

• In 2008, the Fund helped launch the College Readiness Consortium as part of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support a new comprehensive college access and readiness strategy for Baltimore City.

• The Fund served on the Planning Committee, and participated as part of the Baltimore City Action Team delegation, for the Maryland State Department of Education’s Brighter Futures: Maryland’s Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit. Supported by the America’s Promise Alliance, the summit increased awareness of successful dropout prevention strategies and interventions, and encouraged community partners and district staff to begin designing their own local dropout prevention plans.

• The Fund is serving as Co-Chair of the City Schools' own upcoming America’s Promise Dropout Prevention Summit for 2010, which will continue the work started during the Maryland State Summit.