Every 26 seconds a student drops out in the United States; that is a total of 1.2 million per year. In New Jersey, it is estimated by the Alliance for Excellent Education that 19,000 students did not graduate in 2007. Students who do not graduate are twice as likely to continue to live in poverty, three times as likely to be unemployed, and eight times as likely to go to prison. When young people graduate, it naturally leads to stronger families, safer streets, and more vibrant communities.