Frist set to launch 'community-driven' education initiative

He'll roll out plan in a few weeks

By Lucas L. Johnson II • ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 6, 2009

Former Sen. Bill Frist says K-12 education is falling short in Tennessee, and he plans to launch a "community-driven" initiative to improve it.

The Nashville Republican discussed the plan Thursday at a Newsmakers Session of The Associated Press and Tennessee Press Association.

Frist didn't provide details about the initiative, but he said he will roll it out in a few weeks.

"We're talking about a generational change in how we view education," said the former Senate majority leader. "It's ambitious, but I'm putting my name on it."

Frist, 56, said Tennessee's substandard education statistics demonstrate the need. For every 100 ninth-graders in Tennessee, he said, only 63 graduate from high school. And only 17 out of every 100 ninth-graders in the state will complete college within six years of graduating from high school, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.