Talk to your high schooler about the high cost of dropping out

Not long ago, a student who dropped out of high school could still live a comfortable life. In 1967, nearly half of high school dropouts earned enough money to be considered part of the middle class.

But today? The numbers have changed. Most high school dropouts find themselves at the very bottom of the income scale.

The economy has changed. Many of the jobs that allowed people without an education to earn a good living are gone. Today, high school dropouts can get only low-wage jobs with no opportunity for advancement.

Poor attendance is often one of the first signs that a student is preparing to drop out of school. If your teen's attendance is less than perfect, deal with the issue. Get your teen back into the habit of going to school regularly. By keeping him in school today, you'll help him earn a living in the future.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2010 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Jason Amos, Dropouts, Diplomas, and Dollars: US High Schools and the Nation's Economy, Alliance for Excellent Education, http://all4ed.org/files/Econ2008.pdf.