National High School Graduation Pledge Campaign Launched this Week by the America First or Last Movement

CAMDEN, NJ, September 26, 2012 (Press-News.org) The America First or Last Movement will work with grassroots education organizations in 38 states and 95 school districts to try to increase the U.S. High School Graduation Rate for the Class of 2016 by 3%; through a National High School Graduation Pledge Campaign.

The United States high school graduation rates currently stands at only 75 percent, according to the 2012 report - Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic, released by the Alliance for Excellent Education, America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, and the Everyone Graduates Center at John Hopkins University.

The National High School Graduation Pledge Campaign's mission is to help America raise its overall high school graduation rate to 90% by the year 2020. And start the initiative with the class of 2016, by using social media outlets like Twitter, Face book, Linkedin and text messages to promote the campaign for four months, starting on Monday, September the 24th and ending on Saturday, December 22, 2012.

The Campaign will be asking incoming high school freshmen to sign an agreement with the campaign's local grassroots organization supporters, their parents, and school - to graduate on time, and make a personal commitment to become computer literate, to live drug free, not to become a teen parent, and to agree to enroll in post-secondary education either through a college or a vocational school.

The Campaigns Organizing Director, Albert Mitchell II, said, "I'm honored to be part of history in helping prepare our young women and men for future success in the 21st century. Too many of our students and schools are unaware that other nations are outperforming us in education. This has given them, a big advantage in the new world economy. We hope through this campaign pledge to challenge our youths, their parents, schools and communities to take action."

"America needs a new path, of community leaders, that have a real connection with their youths needs, and are ready to challenge them to want more. We're so happy a few organizations are willing to work with their local high schools to put in the work to get it done."

If you are a parent who has a child starting high school this year, and they have not bought home their pledge for you to sign, please contact your local high school or request the pledge from America First or Last Movement at their website.

New Jersey Minority Educational Development provides an alternative lifestyle for minority youth through higher education.