Poverty + Substandard Education = Economic Crisis

CBS News reports that the majority of students enrolled in public schools in 15 southern states come from low-income backgrounds, which may not be a problem if states weren't also failing to make sure these students graduate, go on to college, and falling right back in to the cycle of poverty. Why does this equal an economic crisis for the Southland? Low income students are less likely to be prepared for starting school, more likely to be held back a grade, less likely to graduate, do not perform as well as their richer counterparts on standard state/national exams. This is only made worse by the fact that publich schools in Southern states spend about half the amount per student than schools in other regions.

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