Texas Businesses Asked to Not Hire High School Drop Outs

High school drop outs are on the rise in Texas, and the State is seeking to bring those numbers back down.

The Texas Education Agency wants to make it tougher for drop outs to find work, but some local businesses say that won't fly.

Texas Education Chief Robert Scott has gone to the Texas Association of Business to ask them to participate in a statewide ban on hiring high school drop outs.

But some local businesses say what the education department is asking for will only add to the problem.

"It's the easy solution, but I don't think it's the right solution, and I really don't think it's a solution at all, Julia Wallace with the Andrews Chamber of Commerce said.

Julia Wallace with the Andrews Chamber of Commerce says the TEA's proposal may sound good, but simply won't work.

"A lot of things are great in theory, but when we start trying to put them to practical use, they don't really work out, Wallace said.

It may do more harm than good.

"I think it'll really just hinder a lot of the businesses that hires these kids. On top of that, I think it'll be a real detriment to the kids themselves, Trae Porter, owner of Porters Thriftway in Andrews said.

He says the TEA should stick to education.

"They're our businesses, and it's none of their business what we do, Porter said.

He says all people with or without diplomas should have a place in the Texas workforce.

"It's really intrusive. I don't think it's any of their business, first of all, what happens with the kids once they leave the school, Porter said.

But he encourages education... and even offers incentives for his young employees.

"Some of our kids, we've paid for college, for books and tuition. We think that education is very important, Porter said.

The drop out hiring ban is nothing more than a suggestion at this point. It is not a law in Texas.

Our efforts to contact the Texas Education Agency for comment today were unsuccessful.

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• High
• School
• Dropouts
• Texas
• Education
• Agency
• Robert
• Scott
• Association
• of
• Business
• statewide
• ban

[MrRonStoppable78]

This is a Lead balloon idea for The Texas Education Agency!!