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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Magic Johnson Praises Beshears’ Educational Achievement Efforts
Governor and First Lady welcome Magic Johnson to Commonwealth
FRANKFORT, Ky.—Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear today in celebration of Kentucky’s national leadership in educational improvement efforts, in particular the First Lady’s Graduate Kentucky initiative. The program serves as a comprehensive conversation to identify the reforms necessary to ensure student success and begin the process of lowering Kentucky’s dropout rate, and includes a legislative effort to raise the legal graduation age to 18.
“Governor and Mrs. Beshear’s commitment to improving the lives of Kentucky’s youth is remarkable,” said Mr. Johnson. “I am honored to join with them today not only in support of drop-out prevention legislation, but in celebration of the deep impact they have had on children in need across the state. Their determination is a model for other states across the nation.”
Recognizing the vital role education plays in the lives of Kentucky’s youth and the economic prosperity of the Commonwealth, First Lady Jane Beshear hosted the inaugural Graduate Kentucky dropout prevention summit last fall. She has also visited successful programs around the state, including the Black Males Working Academy, an innovative program working with young African-American males in Fayette County that was highlighted at today’s event.
“Education provides a passport to future successes, not only for our children, but for our state and country,” said Mrs. Beshear. “Whether through statewide programs such as Graduate Kentucky, local organizations like Black Males Working or national groups such as the Magic Johnson Foundation, we must strive to keep our students engaged and in school.”
6,489 students in the state dropped out in 2008 and nearly 26 percent of adults in Kentucky have less than a high school education. Graduate Kentucky has grown to include six regional summits and serve as the foundation for current legislation aimed at raising the dropout age from 16 to 18.
“The importance of House Bill 301, which calls for raising the drop-out age from 16 to 18, cannot be overstated,” said Gov. Beshear. “It would keep students in school longer and ensure that far more of our students complete their K-12 education. I am grateful to Mr. Johnson for his diligence in tackling this problem on a national scale and for joining us today to show his support for such crucial legislation.”
The Black Males Working Academy is a collaborative program of First Bracktown Inc. and the Fayette County Public School System. The mission is to educate, activate and motivate the potential for excellence that lies within every African-American male. The program has received several scholarships from colleges in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Mr. Johnson also applauded Mrs. Beshear’s work with community programs, including BMW in Central Kentucky. The program offers African-American boys additional academic attention from local educators and community volunteers. In just a few short years of operation, the program has seen enormous success in narrowing the achievement gap and encouraging students to place emphasize personal responsibility and studies.
In addition to his professional basketball success, Magic Johnson is also the founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF), which to date has awarded more than $1.1 million to community-based organizations that focus on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. Additionally, MJF has supported more than 800 minority high school students with college scholarships, opened 18 Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Centers in underserved communities and provided a range of community-based initiatives.
For more information about how to become involved in educational improvements in your area, visit: http://graduate.ky.gov.
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