COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Hundreds of educators, students and
business leaders from across South Carolina are in Columbia to
discuss ways to keep students in school and increase the state's
graduation rate.

The Tuesday meeting is part of a nationwide effort to find
solutions for the nation's dropout problem and prepare students for
college. It is among 100 summits to be held across the country by
2010. About 900 people are attending the daylong event at the
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It kicks off the state's
``Graduation Matters'' campaign.

Various reports have ranked South Carolina's on-time graduation
rate as the nation's lowest.

Topics include identifying potential dropouts early, mentoring
and graduation coaches.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)