Latino Dropout Rate Alarms Educators

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new study is sounding the alarm about the number of dropouts from the Chicago public high schools.

A study prepared for a conference on re-enrolling dropouts, not surprisingly, found the problem is acute among minority students.

Jack Wuest, director of the Alternative Schools Network, said there's more.

He said foreign-born Latinos appear to have the highest school dropout rates.

The study, written by Andrew Sun of Boston's Northeastern University, found Latino school dropouts have seen their economic potential fade more quickly than any other group studied.

Wuest said joblessness is rising more and wages falling.

So while the Latino population is gaining in political power, Wuest said young people in the community are lagging in earning power.

Monday's conference at the Union League Club is exploring ways to reverse the trends.

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