Stay in School Week

WHEREAS, the Alabama State Department of Education acknowledges the serious social, economic and educational consequences resulting from students dropping out of high school and resolves to meet the goal of a 90 percent graduation rate with steps outlined Plan 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation has worked tirelessly to invest time and creativity to the “INSIDEOUT: Stay in School Week” Campaign, with the theme of “Graduation is Your Beginning;” and

WHEREAS, this is an effort that brings the importance of graduating from high school and the reality of what happens to those who do not, to the forefront; and

WHEREAS, the week of March 2 through 6, 2015, celebrated as “INSIDEOUT: Stay in School Week,” includes three large scale events in schools across the state, with the goal of inspiring students to stay in school; and

WHEREAS, students will gather to hear testimonials and view the riveting film produced by the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation; and

WHEREAS, national statistics indicate that every 26 seconds a student drops out of school, more than 7,000 students drop out every day, more than 1.2 million drop out every year and eight out of 10 dropouts end up in prison:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim March 2 through 6, 2015, as

Stay in School Week

in the state of Alabama.