THE BOOK

Endorsed by dozens of notable leaders, and with a foreword by President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, The Last Dropout is a must read for anyone who cares about the future of America and its children.

The Last Dropout: Stop the Epidemic! is a non-fiction book by Bill Milliken, founder and vice chairman of Communities In Schools (CIS). It addresses one of the biggest social issues of our time, the American dropout crisis. One out of three students in the United States does not graduate from high school – creating an epidemic that will have a lasting impact on the future of our country. The Last Dropout explains how the entire community can and must play a role in education reform, reversing this startling trend. Milliken believes that together, the business, non-profit, public policy and education sectors can fix this issue and have students graduate school prepared for life.

The book, published by Hay House, also offers nine key principles that CIS has tested over three decades. Interwoven are the dramatic life stories of CIS founder Bill Milliken and his colleagues, during a journey that began in the turbulent 1960s as youth workers with a spiritual mission struggled to turn around the lives of dropouts and addicts. It traces the evolution of the CIS movement from a handful of groundbreaking “street academies” to a national network of hundreds of local affiliates. The Last Dropout also features stories about how CIS leaders have adopted these principles in their own communities with stunning results.

THE AUTHOR

Bill Milliken, founder and vice chairman of Communities In Schools, Inc., is one of the nation's foremost pioneers in the movement to give young people the help they need to graduate from high school and go on to rewarding lives. The year 2000 marked the 40th anniversary of Milliken's commitment to children, and saw him receive two major national awards. The Edward A. Smith Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership honors one executive each year who exemplifies "extraordinary leadership" over a lifetime of service. The "Champion for Children" award from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) honors a nationally known non-educator whose contributions have significantly and positively influenced the lives of children.

THE ORGANIZATION

Communities In Schools is the nation's leading community-based organization helping kids stay in school and prepare for life. Currently, CIS directly serves more than 2 million students and their families each year in more than 2,600 schools in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Its grassroots, personalized approach embodies Milliken's long-held philosophy, "Programs don't change children - relationships do."