The business community in Indianapolis is starting to focus on the economic costs of poor school performance.

Last week, Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and now president of the Washington-based Alliance for Excellent Education, made the following points to the business community:

  • An estimated 6,700 students dropped out of the class of 2008 in metro Indianapolis.
  • If just half of those students had completed school, their increased earnings potential would total $42 million annually.
  • That increase in income would add $55 million to the region’s economy.
  • It would provide $5 million in state and local tax revenue.
  • High cost of dropouts hurts all of us

    To reinforce the message, the Indianapolis Star has been publishing articles that focus on the challenge of educating children and young people in Indianapolis. Read more.

    If you’re curious, the dropout rate in Cleveland’s schools has gotten worse.

    It now stands at 68%.

    Despite all the talk about a new economy in Cleveland, there is not much chance of success until the business community shifts its focus from real estate development to the conditions of Cleveland’s school system.

    A casino, a Med Mart, even a grand plan to complete Burnham’s plan for the city will all be swamped over time by the poor performance of the city school system.

    Last 5 posts by Ed Morrison

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