- Narrator: What do parent-teacher meetings have to do with financial success? First of all, consider how big a role education plays in just getting a job. A high school graduate is almost twice as likely to have a job as a person who never graduated from high school. And then, a college graduate is almost twice as likely to have a job as someone with a high school diploma. So every extra year of education means you have a much better chance of being employed. And what about income? Well, the average high school graduate makes almost 40% more than a dropout. For example, if a dropout made around $20,000 a year, by comparison, a high school graduate would earn at least $7,000 more. And similarly, a college grad would earn over $17,000 more than that high school graduate, for a total of nearly $45,000. For every year a child continues to stay in school, his or her earning power goes up around 15%. With education, the numbers keep rising and rising. Research shows that when parents are involved in their children's education, the kids do better in school. Parents can help them towards greater achievement in three ways: Help their kids with homework; Always talk with them about school; Help them manage their time. Parents who stay informed have higher-achieving children. 
- If we believe that education is important, as I do, we have to model that for our children, and convey the message in every way we can, both by doing, and talking, and being involved. 
- It's the school's job to work with parents, so don't hesitate to visit your child's school or talk to the teachers, in person or by phone. Dropping out of school is a process that begins early on. So, if your child seems to be struggling in any grade, it's time to meet with teachers and the school counselor to talk about ways to help your child get back on track. Many schools provide alternative programs that can help prepare students for the kind of employment and income they deserve as adults. 
- Not every student learns in the same way. So, sometimes we have to generate or create alternative programs to meet their learning needs, their specific learning needs of students who might not fit into that traditional setting. 
- My daughter just started at Shabazz last quarter, after having a very difficult experience at a large school, which was pretty anxiety provoking and not comfortable for her. So for her, she comes home every day saying she loves school. 
- So that students can become re-engaged in the learning process, and get a new opportunity to be successful. 
- He likes to talk, and he loves ideas. And there's 15 other kids in the room, and he's had to really learn to interact with other students. And the teachers here have been so good with helping him learn how to do that. And that's been a great thing that's happened here as well. 
- Narrator: Whether it's at an alternative school, or through parents' involvement to keep their kids advancing at any school, every extra year of education results in better job possibilities and greater income potential for those kids.