A NATIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR RECONNECTING AMERICA'S YOUTH
s a nation, we face a challenge of tremendous consequence that we cannot continue to ignore. The economic future of our country depends on the next generation of young Americans becoming ready for college, work, and life. Sadly, however, many of our young people are reaching young adulthood without the skills and competencies they need to succeed. Millions of youth are being left behind, disconnected from the societal and economic mainstreams, and are falling into harm's way. We overlook disconnected youth at our own peril. One in three youth—and more than 50 percent of minority youth—who start high school will not graduate four years later. Employment for teens is at the lowest level in 57 years, with as few as 20 percent of black teens employed at any one time. It is our moral obligation to make sure all American youth have the opportunity to succeed, and it is our responsibility to ensure our nation's economic health. As the “baby boom” generation prepares for retirement, and as an increasingly competitive global market requires healthy workers with higher skills and education, our nation's youth must provide the brainpower and manpower to fuel our economy, fill our skilled jobs, renew our civic life, and keep our nation safe. Only comprehensive investments—made now—will reconnect these youth and secure their future and those of their families, their communities, and the nation as a whole.