Perdue: Georgia grad rate up thanks to grad coaches

Today Governor Sonny Perdue released new statistics trumpeting the success of his 1-year old graduation coaches program. Perdue was on the grounds of Marietta High School in Cobb County to mark the strides of state educators in reducing Georgia's drop-out rate. The Governor says during his five years in office, the high school graduation rate has increased almost 9-%. Now, just over 72% of Georgia high schoolers get their diploma.

Perdue attributes the success to graduation coaches, academic counselors who target at risk students. And he says the benefit is personal for students, but also economical. Jobs, Perdue says, are becoming more technical, and need more education: "When we bring in, try to locate businesses and jobs here, the quality of our workforce is the real bottom line--that's what they want to know: Can you supply us with a level of workforce that we need".

The Governor issued a challenge to Georgia schools to reach an 80% high school graduation rate by early 2011, when he leaves office.

Graduation coaches get community support

Hundreds of Georgia business leaders have stepped up to support graduation coaches. At a pep rally in Atlanta today, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that 348 Georgia business leaders have volunteered to act as “community coaches.” That means more than 90% of Georgia's graduation coaches have community support.

Graduation coaches identify students at risk of dropping out of school, and work to keep them in class. Each community coach will serve as a resource coordinator for the graduation coaches and students.

Governor Perdue made improving Georgia’s dismal high school graduation rate central to his re-election campaign last year. He also plans to extend the graduation coach program to middle schools.