MEA Votes

The most exciting thing about the Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit held today in Lansing was the 500 plus people who gathered to talk about what they can do locally to address the dropout problem. It was great to see a standing-room-only crowd ready to work together – both in and out of school – to try something different in tackling Michigan's dropout crisis.

All these students, parents, educators and community activists need is some support in their efforts. Case in point – nearly every member of a youth panel at the summit said in a single word that what they needed most was "support."

Unfortunately, we may be on our own when it comes to support from the state. Despite the outcry for assistance, state officials at Monday's summit seemed reluctant to commit to the support many insisted was necessary.