KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, SportsEducation in Amarillo on the verge of change

Education in Amarillo on the verge of change

Amarillo, TX - The future of education is being discussed in Amarillo.

Our community is on the verge of a change, one that will hopefully improve graduation rates.

School districts, colleges, and several organizations met in Amarillo this morning to discuss plans on how to increase student success.

No excuses, no limits...that's the new motto for improving education in Amarillo.

"We're not going to put limitations on what we think our kids can become and we're not going to make excuses for us as adults. Too often we point our fingers at kids and we say no excuses to them but it rings hallow if we're not setting the example," says Damen Lopez, founder of No Excuses University Network of Schools.

Several challenges need to be overcome before we can see any advancements.

"We are faced with low levels of educational attainment, Texas is last in the number of adults with a high school diploma. In Amarillo, one in five adults do not have a high school diploma. We have growing poverty rates in our community, in Potter County one in four are living below poverty level," says Anette Carlisle, Director of Panhandle Twenty/20.

That's why everyone has come together to tackle these issues; issues that won't go away on their own.

"Our focus needs to be to make sure all kids are prepared for college, or some sort of training, and then go ahead and get that training after high school so then they can then be a productive citizen and not live in poverty," says Anette Carlisle, Director of Panhandle Twenty/20.

A focus on success will start at the elementary level and continue until students graduate from college.

"Plans are being discussed to take this success program and implement it in our community."

San Jacinto, Whittier, and South Lawn are three neighborhoods selected to participate in a pilot program.

Those who did not finish high school will now be given a chance.

Software will be placed in local schools and available for anyone needing to obtain a GED.

This is only the beginning...

"We want to have options and opportunities for kids who are in different places in life. We feel if we do that, their graduation rates in high school and college are going to rise," says Damen Lopez, founder of No Excuses University Network of Schools.