MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL, Minn., March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As access to skilled workers becomes increasingly vital to the U.S. economy, AT&T* is launching a quarter-billion-dollar campaign to help more students graduate from high school ready for careers and college, and to ensure the country is better prepared to meet global competition.

According to a March 19, 2012 report by Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America's Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education, Minnesota has seen a 3.5 percentage increase in 2009 graduation rates, compared with data from 2002.

AT&T Aspire, already among the most significant U.S. corporate educational initiatives with more than $100 million invested since 2008, will tackle high school success and college/career readiness for students at-risk of dropping out of high school through a much larger, "socially innovative" approach. Social innovation goes beyond traditional philanthropy – which typically involves only charitable giving – to also engage people and technology to bring different approaches, new solutions and added resources to challenging social problems. The Aspire effort already has impacted more than one million U.S. high school students, helping them prepare for success in the workplace and college.

The greatly expanded effort centers on a new, $250 million financial commitment planned over 5 years. AT&T Aspire will build on that commitment by using technology to connect with students in new and more effective ways, such as with interactive gamification, Web-based content and social media. The company will also tap the innovation engine of the AT&T Foundry to look for fresh or atypical approaches to educational obstacles. Finally, AT&T Aspire will capitalize on the power of personal connections in the form of mentoring, internships and other voluntary efforts that involve many of AT&T's approximately 260,000 employees.

Between now and April 18, 2012, AT&T is also encouraging Minnesota organizations to submit applications to pre-qualify for funding through the [ Local High School Impact Initiative Requests for Proposals ] (RFPs). AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong, evidence-based practices grounded in the [ What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Prevention: A Practice Guide ] and data-driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates. More information on the RFP process is available at [ www.att.com/education-news ] (click on the "Aspire Local Impact RFP" option).

"AT&T Aspire works toward an America where every student graduates high school equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen the nation's workforce," AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said while announcing the extended commitment during a keynote address at the second annual Building a Grad Nation Summit. The Washington, D.C., event convened by America's Promise Alliance ([ http://www.americaspromise.org/ ]), Civic Enterprises ([ http://www.civicenterprises.net/home.html ]), The Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University ([ www.every1graduates.org/ ]), and the Alliance for Excellent Education ([ http://www.all4ed.org/ ]) brings together nearly 1,200 U.S. leaders to discuss progress and challenges in ending the high school dropout crisis.

"We applaud AT&T for its commitment to education in Minnesota," said Colleen Kaibel, director of the Check & Connect program for Minneapolis Public Schools. "With a previous grant from AT&T for more than $93,000, we were able to expand our Check and Connect intervention program at South High School and Anishinabe Academy. Through that program, we've had great success in increasing graduation rates of at-risk Native American students. We plan to respond to AT&T's RFP and hope we can earn a second AT&T Aspire grant through the newly expanded program."

Lacking a high school degree is a serious issue in the United States, where one in four students – more than 1 million each year – drops out, according to a March 19, 2012, report by Civic Enterprises, the Everyone Graduates Center, America's Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education. AT&T is the lead sponsor of this report. Education experts believe that the lack of a high school degree significantly worsens job prospects in a rapidly changing, increasingly sophisticated job market.

And, if dropouts find jobs, they earn less. On average, a high school dropout earns 25 percent less during the course of his or her lifetime compared with a high school graduate and 57 percent less than a college graduate with a bachelor's degree.(1)

The situation poses a serious risk to American competitiveness as corporations struggle to find talent, especially in the math and sciences fields. The dropout rate, along with inadequate training and education, is keeping many high-paying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs from being filled. And the situation is expected to worsen as STEM jobs grow a projected 17 percent by 2018. Workers in these positions typically earn 26 percent more than those in non-STEM positions.(2)

"Dropout prevention starts with caring adults who give students every chance for success," said Danielle Grant, Director of Indian Education. "AT&T's support of Check & Connect implementation with our Native American population at South High School and Anishinabe Academy in Minneapolis has brought at-risk students needed support through mentoring, advocacy, and tutoring. The dropout prevention intervention supported by AT&T was inclusive of families, school staff, and community agencies, bringing a whole child approach to engage in learning and find success in the classroom."

Although the problem is serious, there are signs of progress according to the report issued today:

The high school graduation rate increased by 3.5 percentage points nationally from 2001 to 2009.
In 2001, the rate was 72.0 percent; by 2009, it had risen to 75.5 percent. From 2002 to 2009, six states experienced large gains in their graduation rates; 14 states made moderate gains; and four states made modest gains (Note: 2002 was the first year that state data became available.)
And the number of "dropout factory" high schools (a high school where 12th-grade enrollment is 60 percent or less than the 9th-grade enrollment three years previously) dropped from 2,007 to 1,550 from 2002 to 2010 – a 23 percent decrease.

The new and expanded AT&T commitment builds on the work AT&T Aspire has completed in the last four years. AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have invested more than $100 million in Aspire since 2008 – and more than $923 million since 1984 in education. The Minnesota Aspire investment has amounted to $284,930 since 2008. Organizations that have benefited include Minneapolis Public Schools and St. Louis Park School District.

AT&T Aspire will build on that success by focusing on:

Technology
- Collaborating with innovators, educators and other companies at the AT&T Foundry ([ www.att.com/foundry ]) to blaze new ground in developing solutions to improve education. For example, the company will sponsor challenges or contests for mobile application developers to create cutting-edge solutions to complex problems in our educational system. A June "hackathon" in Palo Alto, Calif., is the first scheduled education/technology development event.
- Expanding strategic alliances with organizations that specialize in developing and marketing new interactive learning tools which better engage today's students.
  - Incorporating gamification, the Internet, video and social media into educational programs.
  - Enabling students in underserved communities to explore careers before graduation through internships in areas related to 21st-century skills.
  - Collaborating on a new initiative with GameDesk ([ http://www.gamedesk.org/ ]), pioneers in game-based and digital learning, combining entertainment with high-quality educational content aimed at equalizing education for all students.
People
- Because AT&T employees have asked for more opportunities to engage with students and contribute to their success, AT&T will launch the Aspire Mentoring Academy later this year. The academy will enable employees to help students at risk of dropping out of school succeed in the classroom and in life.
  - Building on the success of AT&T's first Job Shadow initiative ([ http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=11547 ]) with Junior Achievement ([ http://www.ja.org/ ]), the next evolution for Job Shadow will create a program in which employee-student teams learn work/life skills, explore real business problems and form lasting relationships. The initial Job Shadowinitiative already has involved 100,000 U.S. students, including 924 in Minnesota.
  - AT&T employees will provide skills-based mentoring, which pairs them with students based on shared interests to encourage and support career path development.
- Inspiring more AT&T customers, companies and stakeholders to step up to the challenge of addressing the education crisis.
Communities
- Deepening the financial commitment to local education-focused groups that deliver results.
  - Especially groups that embrace social innovation, focus on 21st-century skills, or focus on STEM disciplines for students in underserved communities.
- Making local contributions to community organizations that specialize in helping students and improving the quality of education.

"It will take all of us working together and supporting the hard work of the education community to continue to improve graduation rates and preparedness for careers and college," AT&T Minnesota President Bob Bass said. "American business has an enormous stake in the success of our students. It's time to commit more innovation and resources to the task."

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: [ T ]) is a premier communications holding company and [ one of the most honored companies in the world ]. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at [ http://www.att.com ]. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at [ http://www.att.com/newsroom ] and as part of an RSS feed at [ www.att.com/rss ]. Or follow our news on Twitter at [ @ATT ].

About Philanthropy at AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: [ T ]) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its philanthropic initiatives and working with other organizations, AT&T has a long history of supporting projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; and address community needs. In 2011, more than $115 million was contributed through corporate-, employee- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs.

(1) "The College Payoff," Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce [August 2011]

(2) "STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future,"

U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration [July 2011]

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

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ATamp;;T Announces Additional Aspire Grants, Track Record of Success in Minnesota Schools

AT&T Announces Additional Aspire Grants, Track Record of Success in Minnesota Schools

New Study: Minnesota High School Graduation Percentage Rate Increased From 2002 to 2009; Nationally, Dropouts Remain Too HighAT&T's 'Socially Innovative' Approach Aims to Increase High School Graduates, Boost Workplace Readiness

New Study: Minnesota High School Graduation Percentage Rate Increased From 2002 to 2009; Nationally, Dropouts Remain Too High

AT&T's 'Socially Innovative' Approach Aims to Increase High School Graduates, Boost Workplace Readiness