Liberals are hitting the panic button after North Carolina’s dropout rate increased by 0.11 percentage points last year.
Of course, this is nothing but election year theater.
The NC Department of Public Instruction’s “Consolidated Data Report, 2014-15” shows a massive decline in the number of dropouts and the dropout rate since 2006-2007. In fact, this year’s rate is more than half of what it was in the mid 2000s. It is also more than full percentage point lower than Republicans’ first year as a legislative majority.
In an interview with NC Policy Watch, Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, who is running for reelection, complained about…resources!
Quote 1: “We don’t have as many opportunities to help because of limited resources.”
Quote 2: “It’s a cumulative effect. But resources can help us prevent these kids from making the million-dollar mistake.”
This does not compute. Did “resources” produce that incredible drop in the dropout rate over the last decade, a period in which liberals claim that resources for public schools have been slashed?