Southfield (WWJ)  -- Looking for ways to fix the alarmingly high school drop out rate here in Michigan is the focus of public hearings beginning this evening. It's all part of a statewide initiative to increase the number of high school graduates to stabilize a weak economy. About 20-thousand Michigan students drop out of school every year. According to statistics from the Teacher's College at Columbia University, boosting high school graduation rates would save 127-thousand-dollars per new graduate.

The hearings are open to the public. Invited guests also will provide testimony about how the dropout crisis affects the economy, families and crime. The findings of these hearings will be presented to political leaders and the public at the Michigan Dropout Prevention Leadership Summit on Oct. 20 in Lansing.

Hearings are planned in 10 communities. All hearings are scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. unless othewise specified.

May 15, Macomb County
Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield Road, Clinton Township.

May 22, Detroit
University Preparatory Academy, 600 Antoinette, Detroit.

June 5, Lansing
Capital Area District Library, 401 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing.

June 12, Flint
Genesee Intermediate School District's Davis Education Center, 2413 W. Maple Ave. Flint

Sept. 4, Traverse City
Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Ave., Traverse City.

Sept. 11, Ishpeming
Ishpeming High School, 319 E. Division St., Ishpeming.

Sept. 18, Western Wayne County
Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, 33500 Van Born Road, Wayne.

Sept. 25, Saginaw
Zauel Public Library, 3100 N. Center, Saginaw

Oct. 2, Kalamazoo
Western Michigan University, Fetzer Center, 1903 Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo.