Panel Approves Funds to Assist School Dropouts

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel voted Friday to commit $50 million toward reducing the high school dropout rate, which Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) called the “greatest challenge facing education today.”

The legislation was approved unanimously by the Labor and Human Resources subcommittee on education, arts and humanities.

Nationwide, statistics indicated that about 25% of students leave high school before graduation. That figure climbs to as high as 40% in some states and 50% in some urban areas.

The legislation approved Friday would attempt to prevent students from leaving school, as well as convince current dropouts to return for their diploma.

Supporters of the bill said its $50-million cost was nothing contrasted with the estimated $77 billion a year that dropouts cost society in lost tax revenues, increased welfare and unemployment benefits and crime prevention.