It does seem to come back to race. At our school district (austinisd.org) we have an African American drop out prevent coordinator who was not local - that is, she was hired from out of town/state who suggested that some of the at-risk, drop-outs, etc. might be better suited to vocational (brick layer, auto mech, etc.). She told our group (biz/gov't, non-profits) that she was 'almost attacked and called a bigot' Statiscally, most of these kids are minority, older, 18 + and are living with either an older sibling or grandparent. It is an issue that the group I'm involved with are working to solve.

I do agree that it is about parental involvement. My oldest (10 yo male) is doing well. The younger (7 yo male) is doing well academically but socially he is behind. I was very up front with both teachers about behavior - that if they are having any trouble with classroom behavior that we (yes, thankfully there is a mom and day) would support them in discipline and consequences. Within the first, she was contacting us and communicating his bad and good days. Encouraging and building up his positive actions, correcting and punishing his negative behaviors. I think my wife put it best when she said, "it's called being a parent."