High School dropout rates have increased at an alarming rate with the U. S. still losing about one of five young people to the crisis each year.   For American Graduate Week — September 23 through October 1 — the WORLD channel presents a collection of education-themed documentaries drawing attention to the challenges that face students and teachers.

America ReFramed’s “The Medicine Game” on Wednesday, September 24 at 8pm and “The New Public,” on October 1 at 8pm are inspired by the American Graduation initiative and also focus on reform and special education.  (You can search WGBY’s complete schedule for rebroadcasts.)

The program America ReFramed tells the many stories of a transforming American culture and its broad diversity through the lens of 26 independent films.  In weekly 60 or 90 minute independent films, the series takes an unfiltered look at relevant domestic topics (healthcare, immigration, the workplace, and politics) with personal storytelling tied to programming social themes.   To find out more about American Graduate Week or the WORLD channel, log on to worldchannel.org.

At PBS NewsHour/American Graduate you’ll also be able to select from a range of videos, reports, articles and blog posts focused on the drop-out problem and what’s being done to address it.