On the heels of an independent report that has found 22 percent of high school youth are disengaged or disconnected from school in Connecticut, the Dalio Foundation is setting up the Connecticut Opportunity Project to address concerns.
The foundation commissioned the study, according to information released earlier this week. Founded in 2003, the philanthropic family foundation is led by Ray and Barbara Dalio.
As many as 39,000 high-school-aged youth were found to be disengaged or disconnected from their schools in Connecticut, either because of weak attendance, or academic or behavioral challenges.
The report was based on data provided to the Parthenon Group of Ernst & Young by the state Department of Education. The analysis covered students enrolled in a public high school in Connecticut between the fall of 2011 and spring of 2015.
The matter is a “high-stakes” issue for Connecticut, as nationally young adults without a high school diploma have a tougher time finding stable employment and sufficient wages, according to the foundation.
Due to these findings, the foundation is launching the Connecticut Opportunity Project, which will provide varying types of grants to applicants seeking to address these issues for young adults from high school age to age 24. The pilot phase is an innovation challenge in which ideas are solicited from individuals, nonprofits and partnerships across the state to improve disengagement in specific ways.
For more information visit the project’s website.
