California

Oakland Students Work to Lower the Dropout Rate

While budget cuts in California take their toll on education, there is one group of students in Oakland, California that are refusing to sit back and watch vital resources dwindle away.

The Youth Action Team (YAT) at Skyline High School has a mission to help students realize the importance of graduating and furthering their education at the college level.

The organization received a substantial financial boost of $41,000 from a State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) links State Farm with a dynamic cross-section of young adults countrywide who give our Company a unique insight into their behaviors, philosophies, and future dreams, helping us to provide products and services that meet the needs of our next generation of consumers.

This YAT endeavor is entitled The I-AM Project (Inform, Activate, Motivate). The project entails a video production on the importance of the A-G requirements and tools for college readiness. A-G refers to the high school courses needed for entrance in the University of California and California State University systems.

A 40 percent dropout rate for Black and Latino males in the school district - coupled with the recent loss of all four Skyline High guidance counselors due to budget cuts - motivated the YAT to create a plan. The group hopes to have the video project completed by April and will begin distribution to students at that time. Their goal is that over time this influential information will help to reduce the area’s already above-average student dropout rate.

Helping to make this project a reality for the YAT are State Farm Agents Larry Sneed and Kristen Law, and State Farm Agency Field Consultant Ashish Dhawan.

“The Youth Action Team at Skyline High is a fine example of young people stepping forward to help shape their future,” said Sneed. “Sometimes all they need is a little help. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant is a great way for us to help support their efforts.”