State House Republicans say a new program is needed to boost Georgia's high school graduation rate.
"We spend $10 billion in this state on education," says Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) "Where 15 to 20 percent ever get a college diploma. We're kidding ourselves. We're kidding our parents and it's time for us to be honest with ourselves."
Millar joined House Speaker Glenn Richardson at a charter high school in Atlanta where seniors take aviation courses. They want high schools across the state to offer similar job training courses for students at risk of dropping out.
"We're not just failing Georgia's children, we're killing Georgia's economy," says House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
For less than $20 million, Richardson says, the state can create a new twist on an old idea that encourages kids to stay in school. It would work like this: In eighth grade, students could choose the job-prep track. Through high school, they would train at their local tech college while fulfilling the requirements needed to graduate. Students could be ready to jump into their local job markets, whether by running the machines at a Dalton carpet mill, or working in a metro Atlanta legal office. While some high schools offer similar programs, the lawmakers want a new law that would codify the programs and put them in every high school.
"This will be a bonanza for everybody," says Millar. "We're helping the kids. We're helping the economy. We're doing the right thing."
Meanwhile, the state department of education wants to drop its traditional vocational track and require all high school students to complete four years of math and science. Millar says the proposal does not conflict with those plans.
"We spend $10 billion in this state on education," says Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) "Where 15 to 20 percent ever get a college diploma. We're kidding ourselves. We're kidding our parents and it's time for us to be honest with ourselves."
Millar joined House Speaker Glenn Richardson at a charter high school in Atlanta where seniors take aviation courses. They want high schools across the state to offer similar job training courses for students at risk of dropping out.
"We're not just failing Georgia's children, we're killing Georgia's economy," says House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
For less than $20 million, Richardson says, the state can create a new twist on an old idea that encourages kids to stay in school. It would work like this: In eighth grade, students could choose the job-prep track. Through high school, they would train at their local tech college while fulfilling the requirements needed to graduate. Students could be ready to jump into their local job markets, whether by running the machines at a Dalton carpet mill, or working in a metro Atlanta legal office. While some high schools offer similar programs, the lawmakers want a new law that would codify the programs and put them in every high school.
"This will be a bonanza for everybody," says Millar. "We're helping the kids. We're helping the economy. We're doing the right thing."
Meanwhile, the state department of education wants to drop its traditional vocational track and require all high school students to complete four years of math and science. Millar says the proposal does not conflict with those plans.
