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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 8, 2010
Sen. John Ford
Senate Education Committee Approves Bill to Increase Graduation
Rates
The full Senate is the next stop for legislation aimed
at increasing high school graduation rates throughout Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 2139, by Sen. John
Ford, won unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee
on Monday. Ford said a new study by the Alliance for Excellent Education
shows how important this issue is to Oklahoma's economy.
"According to this new report, if the 14,500 dropouts from
2008 alone had earned their diplomas, Oklahoma's economy would have
seen an additional $3.8 billion in wages over those students' lifetimes,"
said Ford, chairman of the Education Committee. "In addition,
we would have saved millions on remedial education, health care
costs and in corrections."
Ford, who represents Craig, Nowata and Washington counties, explained
SB 2139 would create a formula for schools to set new graduation
targets. Those schools would be given two years to meet those goals.
Schools unable to meet their graduation goal would receive assistance
from the State Department of Education to develop and implement
a plan to improve graduation rates.
"Right now we're losing on the average a fourth of all students
who begin high school--the numbers are even higher in some districts,"
Ford said. "Ensuring more students graduate will create a better
future for them, and a better economy for our entire state."
For more information contact:
Sen. Ford: 405-521-5634
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