Mississippi Department of Education Director of Dropout Prevention Dr. Sheril Smith spoke to chamber members about the importance of increasing graduation rates and decreasing the number of students who drop out of school as it relates to the development of a trained workforce, perhaps the most vital factor considered by industries seeking to locate in an area.

"In the industrial community, there's an economic impact when students drop out of school," Smith said. "The state is losing money because students aren't getting their diplomas. We hear from industries all the time that the number one thing they need is a trained workforce."

According to department of education statistics shown by Smith, the estimated lifetime earnings in Mississippi lost by one class of dropouts is estimated at $4 billion.

Likewise, the state economy would enjoy a $93 million savings in decreased crime prevention spending and increased earnings each year if the high school graduation rate for male students increased by just 5 percent.

In order to move the state toward a lower dropout rate, the department of education will require each school district to implement dropout prevention plans this fall. But Smith said local organizations like the chamber should also get involved in local schools to assist in any way possible.

"The easiest, cheapest, most effective thing someone can do to prevent a child from dropping out is to just get involved with a student," she said. "A committed core of people who say, 'I will do whatever it takes to keep this student from dropping out,' is what makes a prevention program successful. Otherwise, it's just funding and numbers."

Smith said Mississippi school districts are losing an average of 2,000 students before they ever enter high school. In order to improve this number, she said, communities must come together and identify students who are at risk of dropping out.

Even though most of the state's dropouts make their decision in middle school or early high school, Smith said dropout prevention must begin much, much earlier - in kindergarten.

"Elementary school really sets the foundation for a student," she said. "Not all students come in on a level playing field. Communities need to work with Head Start programs and day care centers to make sure students have the knowledge they need to come into elementary school. If a student's daycare is just a baby sitter where they sit around and watch TV, that puts them at a disadvantage."

Smith encouraged chamber officials to work with students at all stages in the educational system to keep school interesting. Further department of education statistics show that 47 percent of all dropouts say uninteresting classes are the reason they quit.



"As a community, we need to see where students get the sense early on that school is not the right environment for them," Smith said.

The primary method used locally to keep classrooms more interesting - and challenging - is the Mississippi Scholars program. Mississippi Scholars Chairman Kenny Goza said more than $30,000 in scholarships was awarded through the program just this year, with approximately 50 presenters in the county.

"We're working closely with our local school systems - they are of paramount importance to Mississippi's future," said chamber executive vice president Cliff Brumfield.

Brumfield said the state's current dropout rate was "alarming," and unless it was reversed would prohibit the state from putting its best foot forward in the drive to recruit industry.

"In order to maintain higher-paying jobs and lure in higher-paying industries, we must have the best-trained and finest quality workforce," he said. "For that, we need the best educational and leadership skills possible to compete in the global market."