Walking the Talk: Increasing Educational Options for Southern Youth. A Background Paper. Alliance for Achievement.

The U.S. problem of youth passing through school without a clear educational purpose has been compounded in the South by a variety of factors. Ways in which these transitions can be smoothed are reported in this paper. All children are capable of academic success, including some level of post-secondary education. The chances for realizing such success are much greater if young people experience education as a "seamless" path rather than a series of bumpy transitions. Chapter 1 "The Challenge," lays out the moral and economic challenges that require a shift in current approaches and entailing a push for academic achievement for all. Chapter 2, "Moving Toward Collective Responsibility," puts forward an overview of the special role of middle schools and community colleges. Chapter 3, "Pieces of the Puzzle," discusses the fundamental elements required of schools and colleges if they are to provide a seamless path, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Model approaches are described as seeds for crafting local approaches. Chapter 4, "Tying It All Together," offers insights from people who have initiated efforts at school change and it discusses lessons from other community-wide educational partnerships. Appendices include a resource list, selected sources, and Project Step: Outreach Services Model. (EMK)