Report: Ill. dropouts earn less, cost state more

CHICAGO (AP) — A new report finds that high school dropouts in Illinois earn less during their lifetimes, cost government more and are more likely to spend time in jail.

The Alternative Schools Network released results of the report Wednesday. It says about 15 percent of 18- to 34-year-old males who dropped out of high school were incarcerated. Almost 29 percent of black males in the same age group spent time in jail.

That's compared to 3 percent of male high school graduates.

The report also says school dropouts cost a net average of about $70,000 during their working years, while high school graduates make a net contribution of about $236,000.

The Alternative Schools Network includes non-profit schools that inner-city students.