Strong families are the foundation of strong communities. As a husband, father of two, and a future teacher, I know how critical it is that our schools prepare students for real life — and that parents are given a voice in their child’s education.
A Better Path: Curriculum That Prepares, Not Pressures
Many high school graduates today are burdened with college debt and no degree to show for it. In fact, roughly 33% of students drop out every year, and only 62% earn a degree within four years according to CTindider.com & research.com. A troubling number of these dropouts end up owing more than they borrowed, illustrating a broken model that pushes students into paths not suited for everyone.
That’s why I believe higher education shouldn’t be the default path for every student — especially at the cost of debt or emotional strain. Instead, our schools should prepare students for real success after graduation, whether that’s college, careers, or entrepreneurship. (links posted below)
https://research.com/universities-colleges/college-dropout-rates?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Designing Education with Purpose
Starting in 6th grade, students should be guided toward exploring career paths and developing critical skills — not just completing standardized tests. Here’s how we can accomplish that:
1. Expand Career & Technical Education (CTE):
- Students exposed to CTE are 21 percentage points more likely to graduate high school than their peers according to CT Insider and many others.
- In Arkansas, over 115,000 students took CTE courses in 2021–2022 Arkansas Department of Education and many others. CTE keeps students engaged, builds skills, and leads to jobs that pay — often without the debt of a degree.
2. Make Electives Meaningful and Mandatory Mentorship:
Provide elective courses (e.g., trades, finance, civics, healthcare, coding) tied to on-the-job mentorship and shadowing opportunities. This real-world exposure helps students understand what they’re signing up for — and whether it fits.
3. Build Financial Literacy & Civic Awareness:
By the time students graduate, they should understand:
- How to budget, manage credit, and avoid debt traps
- How government works, their civic duties, and how to engage thoughtfully — so they graduate as productive, informed citizens.
- Require students to have debates and be able to use sources to ensure intellectual conversations, not just talking points from either side of the debate.
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/CTE_Press_Release_COMM.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Why This Matters for Boone County
By shifting away from “college by default” toward purpose-driven education, we can:
- Reduce dropout and debt rates
- Keep students local and engaged (solving brain drain)
- Provide paths to good-paying jobs immediately
- Directly connect education with opportunity
Students who follow tailored paths into the workforce or entrepreneurship — supported by mentoring and real-world exposure — are more likely to succeed both personally and professionally. Let’s invest in that kind of transformation.