By Lori Yount

Staff Writer

A new graduation coach program and stiff driver’s license penalties are two initiatives credited with lowering the number of Georgia high school students who drop out of school.

The number of graduates in the 2006-2007 school year increased, as well, state officials said today.

The number of dropouts in grades 9 to 12 decreased by 2,272 students from the 2005-2006 school year, and the graduation rose to 72.3 percent, up 9 percent from 63.3 percent in the 2002-2003 school year, according to a statement from Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office.

Gov. Perdue has set a goal of raising the graduation rate to 80 percent by 2010, according to his statement.

The governor and State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox touted the High School Graduation Coach Program one reason for the improved statistics.

The program began in the 2006-2007 school year and employs 336 coaches statewide to identify and help students who are at-risk of not finishing high school so they can create a plan and find mentors to encourage them to complete their education.

The coach program is being extended to middle schools for the 2007-2008 school year.

Laws that take away student driver’s licenses if they drop out or miss 10 or more days of school without excuse, a virtual high school that offers a wider variety of courses statewide, increased spending per student and initiatives to attract the best teachers were also factors in helping more Georgia students stay in school and graduate, according to the governor’s office.

E-mail Lori Yount at lyount@timesfreepress.com

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for complete coverage.