<p>A high school diploma is a young person’s starting point for an independent, secure and happy life. Graduates are also on their way to building America’s economic competitiveness as part of an educated, innovative workforce.</p><p>Unfortunately, one out of every five students in America – or nearly one million every year – fails to graduate. Dropping out makes it harder for a young person to succeed, while our economy loses hundreds of billions of dollars in productivity and communities suffer enormous social costs. </p><p>Our Response America’s Promise Alliance launched the GradNation campaign in 2010, building on the 105 Dropout Prevention Summits we convened across the country to raise awareness and inspire action to increase graduation rates. Grad Nation is a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to prepare all students for success. The campaign now includes 100 Grad Nation Community Summits designed to accelerate the progress being made toward the Grad Nation goals: </p><p> achieving a 90 percent graduation rate nationwide by 2020, with no high school graduating less than 80 percent of its students and;  regaining America’s standing as first in the world in college completion. </p><p>Our Strategy Through this campaign, America’s Promise mobilizes hundreds of national partners and their local affiliates to provide all children with the Five Promises – the fundamental resources young people need to thrive and succeed: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others. </p><p>For the first time, high school graduation rates are on pace to reach 90 percent by 2020. More than half of U.S. states increased graduation rates since 2002, raising the national rate to 78 percent. The number of students attending “dropout factories” — high schools graduating 60 percent or fewer of their students within four years— declined 23 percent over the last decade. But we still have much to do to meet our goals. You can help America become a GradNation. Visit www.gradnation.org to find ideas, inspiration and resources you can use to help millions of young people achieve their full potential.</p><p>2013-07-15</p>