Kanye West and ED - Dedicated to Making a Difference

Today marks the 100th post of Roy's Blog on Schools.

And regular readers will know that I range far and wide over the school reform landscape.

Still, today's topic - hip-hop singer Kanye West -- may surprise a few people. I confess I'm a little surprised myself. My experience with dance music runs more toward swing than hip-hop.

And regular readers will know that I range far and wide over the school reform landscape.


Still, today's topic - hip-hop singer Kanye West -- may surprise a few people. I confess I'm a little surprised myself. My experience with dance music runs more toward swing than hip-hop.


But all of us at the ED in 08 campaign are pleased that Kanye, through his personal foundation, is trying to do something about the dropout crisis in our schools. Every year, about 1.2 million young people drop out of high school, and he can clearly reach young people.


Tonight, we are sponsoring his inaugural benefit concert at the House of Blues in Chicago.


Kanye is going to do some television public service announcements for us, and both he and his mother, Dr. Donda West, are going to make a joint public appearance with the ED campaign.


I don't want to overstate what I know about Kanye. But his foundation is devoted to using music to fight the horrible dropout rate in our high schools. And I really like the first words you hear when you visit the foundation's Web site:

Please join us in making a difference.

I may not get hip-hop music, but I totally get that message. And I know we need more people like Kanye - all of you, and especially our presidential candidates - to do that, too.


Let's make a difference for our schools and America's students.