Did You Know...Out of 100 ninth graders in Hawai‘i, 68 graduate from high school on time, 40 enter college, 24 return for the second year, and only 12 earn a college degree on time.
(National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, 2008)
"Education is now the currency of the Information Age. It's no longer just a pathway to opportunity and success - it's a pre-requisite. There simply aren't as many jobs today that can support a family where only a high school degree is required."
President Barack Obama, Address to Mapleton Expeditionary, School of the Arts, May, 2008
To Succeed in College or a Career, Hawai‘i’s Students Need to Prepare in High School.
Step Up is a community-wide campaign that promotes college and career readiness for Hawai‘i’s high school students.
To succeed in today’s information age and to prepare for a dynamic and ever-changing future, Hawai‘i’s high school students are encouraged to earn the Hawai‘i State Board of Education’s Step Up Diploma. This diploma, available for the graduating classes of 2013 and beyond, is different from the regular high school diploma. It includes more challenging classes in math, science and writing, and it also includes the completion of a senior project.
Upon graduation, students who earn the BOE Step Up Diploma are rewarded with incentives for stepping up to this challenge. And they are better prepared to succeed after high school, whether they choose to attend college or choose a career.
Click here to see the Requirements and Benefits for the BOE Step Up Diploma.
JOIN THE STEP UP MOVEMENT! HERE'S HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN BE INVOLVED:
Businesses, Community and Professional Organizations:
- Pledge your support as a Step Up partner for the benefit of students and the state.
- Spread the word in your organization about the Step Up campaign and the benefits of taking challenging courses in high school.
- Offer incentives to students who graduate with the Board of Education’s Step Up Diploma.
- Get involved with students and schools – host a career day at your place of business, speak to students about the importance of college and career readiness.
Parents:
- Speak with your children, encourage them to earn the BOE Step Up Diploma and to sign up for it in 9th grade.
- If your children are not yet in 9th grade, talk to them about the importance of taking challenging classes – starting early is smart.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE STEP UP MOVEMENT!
For more information on the Step Up Campaign, please contact Lesli Yogi, 956-5443 or lyogi@hawaii.edu