WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The Calcasieu Parish School Board has accepted a $12 million grant to fund efforts to reduce the high
school dropout rate.

The three year grant mirrors state funded ninth-grade initiatives that have reportedly been successful in five out of six high schools.

Washington-Marion High will be the test ground of the Innovation program, which aims is to increase
ninth- and 10th-grade school attendance rates and improve highstakes test scores.

The grant will help buy supplies and materials and fund teachers' professional development.