PBS News Hour
December 14, 2011
Written By Veronica Devore
A teenager punches the snooze button again and is contemplating skipping class to stay in bed when her cell phone rings. Tyra Banks is on the line telling her to get up, go to school and do what she has to do to graduate.
Pre-recorded robocalls from the likes of Banks, rappers Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa plus many other celebrities are behind an initiative from the Get Schooled Foundation -- in partnership with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation*, Viacom and other major sponsors -- to increase attendance in American high schools. Students and parents can sign up for the twice-weekly wake up calls that, in combination with school-wide attendance challenges and activities rolled out in 90 schools across the nation, encourage teens to get up and get to school.
Listen to celebrity wake up calls.