as the engine of the grad nation campaign, the civic marshall plan has to specific goals. 90% high school graduation rate by the class of 2020. presidents since john kennedy have set goals for the nation to boost our educational outcomes. but today this civic marshall plan is a specific plan of action that puts in place benchmarks along the way to ensure that we make progress and chart our progress over time. it takes that national goal seriously, adopts a cohort approach. the class of 2020 is in fourth grade today. the plan targets the high school dropout factories where we're losing about half of the nation's students every year. and their feeder elementary and middle schools that brian gallagher will help us chart. it focuses on data driven, research innovations and reforms to keep students on track to graduate. like all 50 governors in 2005 when they came together on that graduation rate compact, we worked with organizations to encourage such big institutional plays in alignment with these benchmarks of the civic marshall plan. high school, as we know, is insufficient.

i want to thank the leadership council members of the civic marshall plan to build a grad nation. all the organizations listed here for their extraordinary work over the last year working in partnership. this is their civic marshall plan. it was developed in partnership with them. to get a better sense of how organizations are putting a stake in the ground aligning with the civic marshall plan and achieving real results, we're now going to hear a few of the boldest and most promising what we call big institutional plays this year which are also featured in the report. our first big institutional alignment with the civic marshall plan is the corporation for public broadcasting's american graduate initiative presented by pat harrison, their dynamic president and ceo. i can tell you, i think it's one of the most exciting developments we've had in the last year. grad nation has seen the power of media to raise awareness and spur action to address the high

that we will bring others to this work and bring our communities together to build a grad nation so that we can remain a great nation and hold our place in the world. and now it is my privilege to introduce to you somebody who i can truly say i've known him all his life. please welcome the co chair of the grad nation campaign, michael powell. >> good morning. you know, we know a lot about what it takes to successfully raise a child. but i don't think there's any greater blessing or advantage than to have a committed and caring mother. and mine happens to be spectacular. you know, by the time i finish my remarks, seven more kids will have dropped out of high school. by the time you finish your work two days from now, another 6,646 will be gone. that's crisis. that's a ticking time bomb. that is a sure way to erode the foundation of any hope of the american dream. we're here to change that. and to change that with some urgency. we launched the grad nation campaign to mobilize america to end this dropout crisis. now, this campaign has become a large and growing movement of dedicated individ

as alma powell says in the grad nation report, we can't afford excuses. and america's promise alliance is one of the most effective and largest partnerships increasing champions for the nation's children and champions never make excuses. they do work toward the mission every single day. and our kids really need these champions. we should think of them as our kids. our best and brightest. because that's how they start out. believing that they do have a bright future. believing that they can be among the best. who do eventually graduate. but somewhere along the way, they lose their way. and when that happens, they and we all lose. because, as their success goes forward or it falters, or it fails, so goes our nation. let me tell you what the nation's public media station, radio television online and in the community, are doing to address the dropout challenge through an initiative we launched last year called american graduates, let's make it happen. for his eloquent words inspiring public media to action at that launch. working in partnership with america's

and we believe that together, we can create a grad nation.why target is on track to give a billion dollars to education by the end of 2015. thank you. it's why we're connecting our work in the arts, social services and tourism to education for greater impact and it's why we offer a host of innovative programs and forge strong, cross-section partnerships like our partnership with america's promise alliance. target is also using our strengths to raise awareness of this critical issue. a good example is our recent partnership with the ellen degeneres show, where we gave $5 million to 50 in-need schools across the country. ellen asked her viewers to nominate schools and the response was phenomenal. the funds we were awarded will be used for reading and after-school programs, new technology, and basic needs. let's take a look. >> education is at the heart of target's community giving and they are committed to helping u.s. children reach their potential this year. 50 worthy schools will receive a grant, each totaling $5 million. >> i'm the presiden

a mc donogh grad chases a national championship tonight...and our prep plater of the week...it's allre no bank account... and make it easy to shop online. heaviiy promoted as a way to get your federal ttx reeund fast. as... patrice harris explains.... ááconsumeráá reports says.../ you... neee to be....careful. 3 3((pat on cam))promotioos for prepaid debit cards can be enticing... (sot: promo #1) "there's no credit check. no you're 18 or over, you can't be turned ddwn." (sot: promo get your card now." (v/o)you - stores and online. they bear n - familiar logosslike mastercard and visa. and like a regular to make purchases and to get cash aa atms. but after examining he extensive ttrms and cooditions of 16 prepaid debit cards, consuuer eports says that's where the similarity endss(sot)"if your prepaid card is lost or stolen or there are errors on your account, youudon't have the same legallprooections that you do with a tradiiional debbt oo credit card. and there ccn be lots of fees." (v/o)take the accountnoo gold visa prepaid card. its fees include a monthly charre of that month. using

this saturday, aiminn to keep that a former prep player oo he week and mcdonogh grad gets ready for the women's nationalnextt pext.and e'll be back tonight for fox45 news at ten -- and the late edition at 11... lattr.

according to the national center for education statistics, college grads with the stem degree make aboute than those with general studies degrees. now, aside from choosing the stem degree, because not everybody is cut out for stem, what are some of the things people can do to make sure they're making the right choice. >> obviously you want to know what the job market is going to be like when you graduate. not everybody can predict that. i think it is really important to keep in mind that learning needs to continue after college. i mean, the most successful people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, are people who are continually learning. things change really fast in this economy. we're not really sure what kind of jobs are going to be the ones in most demand 15 years from now, 20 years from now. things change really fast. you need to be somebody who is going to be able to keep learning, creativity is really important. >> adopting new technology, asking a lot of questions, always being on the edge of whatever is new, right? >> paying attention to what is new and also paying attention to what is

grads this year. this survey came from the national association of colleges and employers and so it is yet another look. if you put it in real numbers, almost 16,000 entry level positions have been listed for the class of 2012. you compare that to the class of 2010 which only had about 5,000 job hostings, so what we're also seeing are bigger job fairs at several colleges since these companies are scouting for more of these college grads. carol. >> what about the salaries of these new jobs? >> it looks like the paychecks are getting fatter. the median entry level is up 4.5% from last year. if you put that in real dollars it is almost $43,000 a year. not bad. don't rest on your laurels. kpeg will be darn tough. employers are getting more than 30 applications per posting and because you also have to remember beside the folks just graduating, a lot of graduates that settle for a low-paying job during the recession or didn't find work at all so they're trying to sort of make their comeback and they're eyeing for the entry level jobs that are better than the ones they settle for. tough competition out there

the national association of college and employers says starting salaries are up 4.5% from last year and more gradsre expected to be hired this year than last year. >> i think the glass is half full for 2012. i think things are definitely a little better than in 2011. i would rather be looking for a job this year. >> here are a couple of things can you do to improve your chances of getting hired. don't sabotage those chances with an unsuitable social media profile. google yourself to see what's there. join professional sites like linked in and network off line, too. if you applied for a job months ago and haven't heard back, it's time to check in again. companies are hiring. most importantly don't blame other people. work on yourself. >> if you can begin to source your talents and your skills, which i call it's a development issue, in a world where only the strong survive, it's not about weakness, strength, focus on what you can do, not on what you can't do. >> don't forget your job market is a job market of one. the only statistic that matters to you is whether or not you are employed. for smart i

grad twice over and spent a year longer at the school than president obama. three of romney's sons also attended harvard business school. mitt romney has a law degree and business degree from harvard. meanwhile, republican national committee chairman priebus is deny suggestions his party has a problem with females. >> i know you don't agree but looking at the polls you have a gender gap problem. recent polls show a huge, huge margin for democrats with -- among women voters. how big a problem is it? how do you close it? >> well, for one thing, you know, if the democrats said we had a war on caterpillars, every mainstream media outlet talked about that, then we'd have problems with katter pillers, i mean the fact of the matter is it's a fiction. >> so the caterpillars line essentially putting the blame on the media for creating the women problem or the perception of a women problem. the democrats jumped on those remarks saying they were completely out of touch. yesterday a poll showed the president was ahead of mitt romney by 18 points in key swing states. david axelrod tweeted this, from the department of clueless, rnc chair says gop problems with women are contrived by media. >>> on to some business nut where ec

meantime, in california and all over the nation, people are dealing with a lot of student debt on average $15,000 in federal student loans for graduate, new gradsith federal loan debt, 48% almost half in california. >> that's a tough way to start a new career. >> yeah. deep, deep debts. it is 6:26 right now. toss it over to christina loren to find out how deep and beautiful the sunshine's going to be. >> i thought you were talking about my debt, at least 15 years. good morning to you, we've got a gorgeous day. we are all going to get paid in abundant sunshine. but take a look at this beautiful, beautiful start. a gorgeous sunrise setting up over the entire bay area. it's a little cool out there. but we're headed toward the 70s. i've got your forecast coming up, 6:26. first, let's check your drive with mike. >> this being friday, we have a lighter volume of traffic. the slowdown contained to livermore. confined to the city limits. no problems through pittsburgh and bay point. and the metering lights even though there's a light volume of traffic, they've been turned on containing folks right here on the approach, but the east shore freeway just 1

up, barely getting by after graduation why new college grads are in for a rude welcome to the world of work. >>> deadliest tornado outbreak the nationn 300 people killed one year later, fema and noa teamed up to make sure every one is ready for the next big storm. advice you should hear is coming up 8:36 a.m. ah. so much better than last year. [ both screaming ] food out the window! throw the food out the window! [ roaring ] never again. everyone deserves a great vacation at a great price. get onboard a carnival cruise and get more fun for all. [ horn blares ] never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. if my mom can fight and beat breast cancer, i can walk 60 miles. (woman) the fund-raising was the easiest part. people were very giving. complete strangers wanting to help. i knew someday i was gonna do this walk. if i can do this, you definitely can do this. we can do this. we can all do this together. (man) register today for the... and receive $25 off your registration fee. because everyone deserves a lifetime. >>> a quick reminder about the fox 5 job shop the job of the day is sra international they are look