ATLANTA (March 8, 2010) – Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) is urging the Senate to pass his Dropout Deterrent Act (SB132), which will increase the mandatory school attendance ages from 16 to 17. Georgia has a dropout rate of 21 percent with 38,000 students failing to graduate from high school in 2007. High school dropouts cost the state $23.5 million annually.
“Our state has more high school dropouts than individuals with advanced degrees. We cannot afford to ignore this problem,” said Sen. Fort. “One year’s class of dropouts will cost Georgia $4.8 billion dollars over 50 years.”
In addition to making less annually, dropouts also receive more government assistance, are more likely to be incarcerated and are twice as likely to rely on Medicaid.
“My bill addresses this problem by requiring teens to stay in school, and encourage them to obtain the necessary information they need to be productive adults. We can address this issue today and save our state billions of dollars in the years to come,” said Sen. Fort. “If Georgia wants to be an economic powerhouse, we must improve our educational system. This bill is just one step toward that economic transformation.”
Sen. Fort’s bill is currently in the Senate Rules committee, and if passed will go to the Senate for a vote.
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Sen. Vincent Fort represents the 39th Senate District which includes a portion of Fulton County. He may be reached at his office at the Capitol at 404.656.5091, by cell phone at 404.287.7116.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2010
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Kitt, Press Office Coordinator
jennifer.kitt@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028