Eye Candy: Get Schooled (Redux)

Here’s a bit more information about the Get Schooled initiative, in case you haven’t heard much about the cause that is being supported by Viacom and the Bill and Melinda Gates Corporation:

Every 26 seconds a student drops out of high school. Every school day seven thousand students walk out on their education. One-third of all students fail to graduate high school. And most low-income students who start college never finish.

America’s education crisis has left many young people, especially minorities and those from lower-income families, without the skills and knowledge required for a meaningful career in the 21st century. Of those who do graduate high school, half lack the skills to successfully complete community college. Most drop out of post secondary education before receiving a certificate or diploma. In the face of increasing global economic concerns, our failure to ensure all Americans have access to a great education is a threat to long-term American competitiveness and prosperity.

To help address this crisis, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with Viacom in a groundbreaking initiative. Together, we are able to combine the foundation’s deep knowledge of education reform with the power of Viacom’s diverse brands from BET Networks, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures to raise awareness among relevant stake holders and communities about the challenges facing America’s public education system. This initiative is dedicated to identifying sustainable and effective approaches that will increase high school and college graduation rates, improve post secondary readiness and promote the fundamental importance of education.

And here’s a couple of more pictures of Stephen at the “Get Schooled” panel in Los Angeles on Tuesday.