A more diversified curriculum is key to more students finishing high school, state Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds told parents at Vicksburg High on Monday.

“About 14,000 Mississippi students drop out each year,” Bounds said. “That means every hour, 1 1/2 students drop out of school. There is a crisis in our state and country, and I am excited about what we’re doing in Mississippi.” Specifically, the state department is sponsoring a “Get On The Bus” promotional campaign.

The campaign is funded by a $1.5 million grant from State Farm in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education and the Public Education Forum of Mississippi.

The goal is to cut state dropout rates in half by 2013 and reduce the economic drain on the state economy — estimated at $458 million annually.

“To make a change we have to boldly confront the facts,” Bounds said. “We need to be careful about figuring out when dropouts begin and I think I can make a real strong argument that they start dropping out the day they’re born.” 

The dropout rate for the Vicksburg Warren School District is lower than the state average, but Superintendent James Price has said there’s still more work to do.

In addition to billboards and TV ads touting the value of completing high school, the program focuses on real world-learning, relationships with caring adults, bridging cultural and financial gaps, early education and parental involvement.

Among other steps that have been taken to prevent dropouts are the availability of online classes, raising teacher salaries and the rebirth of vocational programs.

“We have to first figure out what our philosophy for high school is,” said Bounds. “We have to stop calling them (high schools) and call them work-force preparation. It should be getting them ready for whatever they want to do, whether that be teaching, accounting or laying a pipeline.”

Bounds said 20 years ago 20 percent of entry level jobs required a four-year-college degree and today’s numbers are the same. High schools need to mirror that fact, he said, and expand concentrations beyond college preparation to more practical job skills.

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Contact Megan Holland at mholland@vicksburgpost.com.