N.C. looking to improve high school graduation rate

Two legislative panels are set to begin working on ideas to improve North Carolina’s high school graduation rate.

One will review curriculum and examine how the dropout rate is affected by reform in middle and high schools.

The other committee will award grants to school districts, nonprofits and other entities to help keep students in school.

State officials say only 68 percent of North Carolina ninth-graders go on to earn a high-school diploma within four years.