The Cost of Dropping Out

As West Virginia wrestles to craft improvements to its public schools, new research puts a price tag on the drain to metropolitan area economies caused by dropouts, The Associated Press reports.

"The Washington, D.C. based Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that keeping half those children in school would increase annual incomes by a combined $17.3 million for the Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Weirton and Wheeling metro areas," the article said.

The research suggests other multimillion-dollar boosts to consumer spending and gross regional products, AP reports.

The alliance's president, former Gov. Bob Wise shared its research at a Culture Center event sponsored by the West Virginia Education Alliance. Besides AP, coverage comes from
Public Broadcasting (with audio), The Charleston Gazette, the Charleston Daily Mail and MetroNews.