Palin: Grandchild’s father no dropout

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says her future son-in-law is not a high school dropout as the press is reporting.

The former Republican vice presidential nominee also issued a statement about the birth of her first grandchild.

Palin said Wednesday that Levi Johnston, 18, is enrolled in high school through a correspondence program.

Palin said some media outlets also are erroneously reporting that her 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, is a high school dropout. The governor said her daughter is enrolled in regular high school and has taken correspondence courses.

The Associated Press reported in October that Johnston dropped out of high school to work on the North Slope oil fields. The wire service hasn’t mentioned Bristol Palin’s status in school. Bristol Palin and Johnston are the parents of Sarah Palin’s first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born Saturday.

“We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby,” Palin said in a statement Wednesday. “The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child.”