California Makes High School Reform a Priority by Joining The American Diploma Project Network

Thursday, February 14, 2008Printer-friendly version

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Sandy Boyd, Achieve,
(202) 419-1540, sboyd@achieve.org

WASHINGTON—January 22, 2008— California is the latest state to join the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network, an ambitious coalition of reform-minded states working to close the gap between what is demanded of students in high school and the education they need to be successful in college and careers.

As the 31st state in the ADP Network and the nation’s largest state, California brings 6.4 million public school students to the Network. Collectively, the 31 states that form the ADP Network are home to over 73 percent of the total U.S. public school population—roughly 36 million students in all. Achieve, Inc., a nonprofit education reform organization led by governors and business leaders, manages the ADP Network.

By joining the ADP Network, California has committed to ensuring that its high school standards, assessments, and curricula are rigorous, relevant, and aligned with the expectations that graduates will face in college or the workforce.

"We applaud Governor Schwarzenegger, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and other California leaders—including those in K-12 education, postsecondary systems, and the business community—for joining together to ensure that the state’s students are truly prepared for college and careers,” said Mike Cohen, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Achieve, Inc.

The ADP Network was launched at the 2005 National Education Summit on High Schools, where the nation’s governors joined business and education leaders to make high school reform a national priority. More information about the ADP Network is available online at www.achieve.org.

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Created by the nation’s governors and business leaders, Achieve, Inc., is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, work, and citizenship. Achieve was founded at the 1996 National Education Summit and has sponsored subsequent Summits in 1999, 2001, and 2005. At the 2005 Summit, Achieve launched the American Diploma Project Network. For more information, please visit www.achieve.org.