THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana teachers and school leaders will meet in September in an effort to fight what state officials call a high school dropout epidemic.
The Indiana Department of Education says only three of four Indiana students entering ninth grade will graduate within four years.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett says that's unacceptable. He says the summit Sept. 25 in Indianapolis will begin a statewide movement to reach a 90 percent graduation rate by 2012.
Parents, businesses, community activists and others are invited to join the summit. After the meeting, representatives from all counties will submit plans for dropout-prevention projects in their communities.
