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What YOU Can Do - Students

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  1. Take the PLEDGE to Graduate and Encourage Others to Join You.

  2. Stay on the right track
    • Know the graduation requirements for your school as well as the requirements for college or career training.
    • Do your homework, study hard and don't miss school.

  3. Get Involved
    • Participate in extracurricular activities at school or through a youth organization in your community.
    • Volunteer, get an internship or find a part-time job that gives you skills that will benefit you in the workplace or college.
    • Participate in the I Pledge to Graduate campaign at your school or start one if your school doesn't have one.

  4. Prepare for the Future
    • Challenge yourself academically and plan out your future.
    • Talk to your school counselor and family about your goals and college or career training.
    • Find a mentor who can help you plan for your future.
    • Take advantage of college preparation and career readiness resources and opportunities.

  5. Make a Difference
    • Support your peers to make healthy and safe choices.
    • Participate in service learning.
    • Consider tutoring or mentoring a peer or younger student.
    • Be kind and treat others with respect.

Stay on the Right Track

Take the Pledge to Graduation

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What YOU Can Do - Families

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  1. Encourage the Students in Your Family to Take the PLEDGE to Graduate

  2. Start or join coordinated Graduation Matters Montana efforts
    • Create or join a task force of local businesses, parents, caregivers, students and community leaders to focus on graduation.

  3. Plan for the Future
    • Talk with your student about the credit requirements for a high school diploma and their plans for after graduation.
    • Have them explore career and college options and collect as much information as possible.

  4. Get Involved in Their Education
    • Ask them about their homework and talk to their teachers.
    • Volunteer in their classroom or school.
    • Start or join a parent-teacher organization (e.g. PTA).
    • Attend their school events and get to know their teachers, coaches, mentors and friends.

  5. Make a Difference
    • Volunteer at your local after-school program or youth organization.
    • Support other parents and caregivers.
    • Encourage others to make a difference too.

Start or Join Coordinated Graduation Matters Montana Efforts

 

What YOU Can Do – Communities & Businesses

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Download the School-Business Partnership Toolkit

  1. Start or Join Coordinated Graduation Matters Montana Efforts
    • Create or join a task force of local businesses, parents, caregivers, students and community leaders to focus on graduation.
    • Encourage your Chamber of Commerce to take an active role in supporting K-12 education.
    • Display Graduation Matters Montana materials in your workplace.

  2. Invest Your Time and Resources
    • Volunteer time to a local school district's Graduation Matters Montana efforts.
    • Offer student discounts or set up scholarships for students graduating from high school or receiving their GED.
    • Adopt a local classroom or school.
    • Fund a classroom project of interest to your business or community group.

  3. Promote School & Community Partnerships
    • Connect employees with volunteer opportunities at local schools.
    • Establish a workplace mentoring program for local youth.
    • Run a book or supplies drive for a local school.

  4. Provide Career Readiness Opportunities
    • Offer internships, extern ships or job shadowing.
    • Collaborate with teachers and career counselors to create service-learning and other real world learning opportunities.
    • Participate in a career fair or host an industry field trip.

  5. Share Your Story With Us
    • If you're engaged in partnerships with your local school, tell us how your work has impacted your community, your workplace and students.

Start or Join Coordinated Graduation Matters Montana Efforts

Invest Your Time and Resources

Share Your Story With Us

 

What YOU Can Do – Schools & Educators

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  1. Start or Join Coordinated Graduation Matters Montana Efforts
    • Create or join a task force of local businesses, parents, caregivers, students and community leaders to focus on graduation.

  2. Create a Culture of High Expectations
    • Set the goal of a 100% graduation rate.
    • Launch an I PLEDGE TO GRADUATE campaign in your school.
    • Incorporate college and career planning into classroom curriculum, provide scholarship and loan information and organize college tours and career fairs.

  3. Identify and Engage Students At-Risk of Dropping Out
    • Institute an early warning system using indicators such as attendance, behavior and credit deficiency to identify students at-risk of dropping out and create a strategy for re-engaging them.
    • Help kids understand the financial impact of dropping out.
    • Make sure every student has one caring adult in their life.

  4. Know Where to Put Extra Effort
    • Examine your school and district specific data related to dropout rates, risky behaviors and school climate.
    • Identify and change policies that may prevent students from staying in school.
    • Invite in student voices – engage diverse perspectives on school climate and barriers to reaching graduation.

  5. Open Your Doors to the Community
    • Promote volunteer opportunities that engage families and community partners at your school.
    • Be an advisor to a student group and incorporate service-learning activities into your curriculum.
    • Connect with youth-based community organizations.

Start or Join Coordinated Graduation Matters Montana Efforts