G-CAPP Policy and Advocacy News

Georgia Has Highest Percentage of Female High School Dropouts
According to a National Women’s Law Center report released this week, Georgia has the highest percentage of female high school dropouts (41%) of 43 states included in the study.

Nationally, one in four girls will not graduate with a high school diploma in the standard 4 year time period, and the numbers are even higher among minority girls.

The costs of dropping out can be higher for females than for males, as female dropouts earn only 63 cents for every $1 earned by male high school dropouts. Also, girls who drop out are more likely to become pregnant as teenagers and their children, especially their daughters, are more likely to dropout in the future.

Dropout Prevention Strategies Needed for Girls
The Center's report emphasizes that interventions to address the dropout crisis must be tailored to the different needs of boys and girls of all races and ethnicities. A comprehensive dropout prevention strategy for girls must include:

• Providing better support for pregnant and parenting students. Becoming pregnant or taking on parenting responsibilities increases the risk of dropping out. Schools should offer access to social services and child care, allow absences for medical or child care needs, and create individualized graduation plans for pregnant and parenting students;
• Combating sexual harassment in schools;
• Ensuring equal access for girls to career and technical education classes; and
• Ensuring equal access for girls to after-school programs, including athletics programs.

Georgia Ranks Second in Percentage of Repeat Teen Births
According to a new Child Trends research brief, Georgia has the second highest percentage of repeat teen births in the nation. In Georgia, 23 percent of births to girls ages 15 to 19 in 2004 were to teens who had already given birth at least once before. Our state’s repeat teen birth rate actually declined by 21 percent from 1990 to 2004, but unfortunately we still lead the nation in repeat teen births.

The report finds that teens who are already parents are an important target group for programs that work to prevent teen childbearing. Factors such as using contraceptives, staying in school and not living with a male partner have been shown to decrease teen mothers’ chances of having another birth. In addition, research demonstrates that programs such as home visits with teen mothers, case management, mentoring programs, and parenting classes can delay subsequent childbearing. To read a recent article about G-CAPP's statewide Second Chance Homes Program for teen mothers, which works to prevent repeat teen pregnancies, click here.

G-CAPP Fast Fact
Only 59 of every 100 girls graduates within 4 years in Georgia.

Source: The National Women’s Law Center.