Reports
Rebuilding Rwanda
From Genocide to Prosperity through Education
Rwanda is on the verge of a breakthrough. Having weathered one of the worst humanitarian crises imaginable just fifteen years ago, and with an impoverished countryside plagued by HIV/AIDS, hunger, and malaria, Rwanda seems an unlikely place for an economic renaissance. Yet the nation's commitment to good government and support for free market solutions place it as among the most likely countries to see rapid advancement in the coming decades. Such a future is far from guaranteed, and whether it comes to fruition depends largely on the country's system of education.
This report presents a thorough background on Rwanda's education system, catalogues the most up-to-date educational statistics available for Rwanda, discusses the current efforts underway to transform Rwanda through education, and suggests effective means of getting involved.
On the Front Lines of Schools
Perspectives of Teachers and Principals on the High School Dropout Problem
This report has documented a mix of hopeful views and challenging statistics concerning how, and how well, those on the front lines of America's schools -- teachers and principals -- understand the nation's high school dropout crisis.
Teachers and administrators in public high schools recognize there is a dropout problem, know they are confronted with daunting challenges in classrooms and in schools, and express strong support for reforms to address high dropout rates.
Yet, less than one-third of teachers believe that schools should expect all students to meet high academic standards, graduate with the skills to do college-level work, and provide extra support to struggling students to help them meet those standards.
Health-Care Cost for Diabetes and Other Chornic Diseases
The Current Context and Potential Enhancements
Policymakers are increasingly focused on the rising burden of chronic diseases in the United States, and rightfully so. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's account for 75 percent of health care spending nationwide. The onset of debilitating conditions, however, is not always an inevitability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 percent of heart disease and type 2 diabetes cases could be prevented through a combination of healthier diets, improved physical fitness, and no tobacco use. Similarly, WHO estimates that some 40 percent of cancer cases could also be prevented with healthier living.
Quiet Crisis
The Impact of the Economic Downturn on the Nonprofit Sector
In the wake of the economic downturn, hospitals, nursing homes, nursery schools, senior centers, soup kitchens, and other nonprofit organizations have been hit by a triple whammy. The evaporation of wealth has decimated charitable donations; the state and local budget crunch is costing nonprofits their foremost paying clients; and the human need for nonprofit help is skyrocketing as nonprofit resources shrink.
Reversing the nonprofit plunge is a matter of jobs, not just charity. With 9.4 million employees and 4.7 million full-time volunteers nationwide, nonprofits constitute 11 percent of the American workforce—greater than the auto and financial industries combined. If the nonprofit sector were a country, it would have the seventh largest economy in the world. We cannot afford for it to go the way of Iceland, whose financial system collapsed.
Grad Nation
A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle The Dropout Crisis
A quarter century ago, the National Commission on Excellence in Education gave a dire warning:
Our nation is at risk. Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world….The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a nation and a people. What was unimaginable a generation ago has begun to occur—others are matching and surpassing our educational attainments.
One Dream, Two Realities
Perspectives of Parents on America's High Schools
Today in America, there are approximately 25 million parents who have children in American high schools. Their role in the educational achievement of their children is profound. Students with involved parents, regardless of their family income or background, are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, enroll in higher level classes, attend school and pass their classes, develop better social skills, graduate from high school, attend college, and find productive work. The opposite is true for students whose parents are less engaged. Research confirms what common sense suggests: parents are central to the educational success of their children.
Regardless of incomes, education, and performance at the school, parents believe that their involvement is central to their child's academic success. But parents need an access point — a way in &mdash and many are not finding it in their child's school. Parents are clearly ready to help their children succeed academically, but they need better information and tools from the schools to do so — ranging from how to help with homework to how to get into college.
America's Civic Health Index (2008)
Beyond the Vote
Released during the National Conference on Citizenship, America's Civic Health Index is a report developed in an effort to get a stronger sense of how the country is performing from a civic standpoint.
The 2008 survey finds that Americans are actively engaged with this year's presidential election; however, not many people expect to work on the issues raised in the campaign after Election Day.
More to Give
Tapping the Talents of the Baby Boomer
"AARP was founded with the motto, 'To Serve, Not to Be Served,' and we've been engaging volunteers for fifty years. We are putting a high priority on increasing the number and involvement of 50+ volunteers, which will not only help keep them active and healthy, but will help meet our country's urgent needs."
~ Tom Nelson
COO, AARP
"More to Give is the right study, about the right opportunity, at the right time, by three of our most distinguished and visionary social analysts. As 10,000 Americans a day move into their 60s and beyond, Bridgeland, Putnam, and Wofford demonstrate how this nation can transform the purported 'age tsunami' into an experience dividend, one with the potential to improve the lives of all generations. Without question, this is the most important study and most compelling blueprint for making the most of America's aging opportunity."
~ Marc Freedman
Founder and CEO of Civic Ventures,
and author, Encore: Finding Work That
Matters in the Second Half of Life
Report on the State of Corporate Community Investment
Over the past year, the Business Civic Leadership Center has conducted this research on two fronts: (1) by convening community-level, information-sharing, and partnership-building forums in eight regions across the country and (2) by partnering with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University to survey officials in companies of all sizes to analyze how they engage in their local communities. Contrary to the popular stereotype that companies shift operations swiftly from community to community, many choose to stay put in particular locations for years and invest significant dollars in those communities.
While the findings in Report on the State of Corporate Community Investment are not definitive, they do indicate that corporate community investment (CCI) is motivated by a desire to improve local competitive conditions and quality of life, "give back," and recruit and retain employees and customers. Our research findings lead us to believe that the future of how companies and their partners invest in local communities will be different than the past.
Prospects for Prosperity
Rwanda and the Entrepreneurial Society
Upon first examination, Rwanda does not seem an ideal place for business investment and development. However, it has emerged in the past several years as a beacon of investment opportunity. This report explores the reason American investors and businesses would want to take a chance on Rwanda.
Engaged for Success
Service-Learning as a Tool for High School Dropout Prevention
"We need students who graduate from high school prepared to succeed in today's global economy. We also need students who understand the value of service and of helping others - whether in their own communities or across the world. This report shows that service learning programs can be the bridge between these two priorities, helping our students graduate prepared to succeed, but also prepared to use their skills to help others."
~ Senator Ted Kennedy
Corporate Community Investment
The Future of America's Communities
and Competitiveness
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) estimates that businesses provide $6 billion to $8 billion annually in philanthropic contributions to communities across the country. But these community contributions are just the tip of the iceberg.
Achievement Trap
How America is Failing Millions of High-Achieving Students from Lower-Income Families
A Report by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation & Civic Enterprises
with original research by Westat. Written by Joshua S. Wyner,
John M. Bridgeland and John J. DiIulio, Jr.
America's Civic Health Index (2007)
Renewed Engagement:
Building on America's Civic Core
Released during the National Conference on Citizenship, America's Civic Health Index is a report developed in an effort to get a stronger sense of how the country is performing from a civic standpoint.
In this second survey, the data suggest that there has been no recovery in 2007. In fact, there is evidence of further decline and some of the few hopeful signs we saw emerge after 9/11 have now fallen back to earlier levels. Our civic stocks are low, which is unusual in a time of war.
The Case for Reform
Raising the Compulsory School Attendance Age
A Report by John M. Bridgeland,
John J. DiIulio, Jr. and
Ryan Streeter of
Civic Enterprises with support from:
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Case Foundation
and The MCJ Foundation
The Civic Health Index
September 18, 2006
Our nation's first Civic Health Index, released by the National Conference of Citizenship, is a rigorous tool to measure civic progress over time. The Civic Health Index is comprised of 40 key civic indicators measuring levels of political activity, civic knowledge, volunteering, trust, philanthropy, and much more.
The Silent Epidemic
A report by John M. Bridgeland, John J. DiIulio and Karen Burke Morison of Civic Enterprises. Prompted a TIME cover story "Drop Out Nation" and two Oprah Winfrey shows on the subject. See Press Release >>
Related News and Media
Power Point Presentation
A brief introduction to the Silent Epidemic
Dropout Nation
An article from the April 17, 2006 issue of TIME Magazine.
Listen to John Bridgeland
discuss The Silent Epidemic on NPR
How You Can Help
The Stand Up campaign
National Conference On Citizenship
The NCoC's Annual Conference provides our nation's leading scholars, educators, state and federal officials, and leaders of non-profit organizations the opportunity to assess our civic health and to develop a common agenda.
Read the 2005 Report
See Also
NCOC 2005 Program
NCOC 2004 Report
NCOC 2004 Program
