Arizona budget includes $3.4M to help high school freshman get on track to graduate

PHOENIX – The new Arizona state budget includes $3.4 million to help high school freshmen stay on track to graduate on time.

The state’s Ninth Grade Success Grant project encourages students to make sure they complete 25% of their graduation credit requirements during their first year of high school without failing more than one class.

Rebecca Gau with education advocacy group Stand for Children Arizona said 9th Grade On-Track programs have a larger effect on graduation rates than other indicators like income.

“This year we’re really excited because it’s a lot more money (than in previous years), but it also allows for four-year grants with that money. So, high school or high school districts can apply to ADE (Arizona Department of Education) for these grants and they can … use the money over four years,” she said.

Grant recipients must commit to using the funds to implement key components of the 9th Grade Success model, which is based on the Center for High School Success Roadmap.

Center for High School Success (CHSS) is an element of Stand for Children that focuses 9th Grade On-Track initiatives.

Why is it important for freshmen to stay on track?

The program is important because first-year success is crucial to on-time high school graduation.

CHSS says students who complete its ninth grade on 9th Grade On-Track programs are three times more likely to graduate within four years than their peers.

Furthermore, freshmen are three to five times more likely to fail a course than high schoolers at other levels, according to Gina Yacovetta of CHSS.

“It’s almost like changing the script. Before, schools would focus on their seniors and put all their energy into their seniors, but we really are saying, ‘Let’s be proactive and start with our freshmen,’” Yacovetta said.

Gau noted that in addition to setting students on a course toward on-time graduation, 9th Grade On-Track programs can also allow freshmen to start considering other educational opportunities.

“In particular, Camelback High School has seen an increase in career and technical education course enrollment because students who really want that hands-on experience have sometimes been stuck having to do makeup English or makeup whatever. So now, they can take these career training, job training type courses during high school,” she said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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