Budget bill includes $100,000 to expand Bright Futures program

The Bright Futures program, which was started by Superintendent C. J. Huff with the help of various Joplin business and community partners, will be branching out across the state.

The budget bill was completed today following a conference committee meeting and has been sent to Gov. Jay Nixon for his signature.

The following description of the Bright Futures program comes from the Joplin Schools website:

We currently have many students enrolled in Joplin Schools. Each one of them has a name, a face, and a story. 54% of them live in poverty, but they all have hopes and dreams, and each and every one of them deserves a bright future.

That’s where Bright Futures comes in. By helping to create important structures around kids that they need to be successful learners and successful community members, Bright Futures is actively addressing high school dropout rates and the future of Joplin students.

One high school dropout can have a ripple affect on the entire community through the loss of productive workers and more. Dropouts are much more likely than their peers who graduate to be unemployed, living in poverty, receiving public assistance, in prison, unhealthy, divorced, and single parents with children who repeat the pattern and drop out of school themselves.

Through Bright Futures, we can change dropout rates and reshape Joplin’s future by working together.

Bright Futures is a grass roots, community based program that creates partnerships and utilizes community resources for the common goal of helping our kids and strengthening our families and community. Bright Futures has created a system of support for our kids that educators can utilize.

Bright Futures is about cultural change and building a community where education is important and valued. Each and every student is priceless and it’s up to us to help them succeed. As a community, we are responsible for supporting Joplin children. It isn’t just up to the parents, the schools, the business community, faith based organizations, or human service agencies to respond to these needs. Together, we can use our resources to make a lasting impact. Together, we can make a difference.

Think about what you can do to help Bright Futures; the future of our community depends on it.