Here’s an interesting twist on the credit slow down. First, I’m not referring to the inability of many borrowers to access loans to finance vehicles, homes and other purchases. And second, this isn’t a phenomenon being generated by the credit issuer.

Perplexed? Good, happy Monday!

Well, the credit I’m referring to comes from accrediting agencies like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, whose stamp of approval has meant parents, students and the public can rest assured quality education is occuring in those classrooms.

While not necessary, such a notation (which is obviously preceded by a thorough review) has opened doors of opportunity in terms of acceptance into certain programs, scholarships and positions.  

Indeed, my colleague Del Stover profiled Clayton County schools in Georgia, where school board dysfunction  cost the district its SACS accreditation last summer. As a result, hundreds of families moved out of the district into neighboring school systems or private schools that were accredited.

Now pan three states over and fast forward to today, when just about everyone, particularly school districts are feeling the effects of a seemingly bottomless recession, and you’ll find Dallas Independent School District’s approach to a SACS accreditation: we’ll pass thanks.

Yup, the second largest school system in the second-largest state is opting out of the evaluation process that 13,000 other schools and school systems undergo through SACS.  Dallas cites (what else?) financial reasons for their withdrawal.
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Talk about putting your money where your mouth is, just before Christmas, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert donated the last of his $60,000 mayoral salary to a program aimed at boosting college attendance among high school graduates.

Leppert, a former chief executive of Turner Construction, had already committed $50,000 of his wages to a college scholarship fund targeted to students attending predominantly low-income, high minority high schools in Dallas.

Nationally, 67 percent of graduates from the class of 2007 went on to college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Statewide, the college enrollment rate in Texas in 2006 was 55 percent, according to the National Information Center for Higher Education and Policy Making Analysis.

Dallas, the 12^th largest school system in the nation, has a long way to go, as less than half of all ninth-graders graduate from high school four years later.

 ”We have kids who can’t link staying in school, going to college and what that means later in life,” Leppert told the Dallas Morning News.

And making those linkages are critically important, especially in today’s tough economic climate and competitive job market. High school dropouts earn, on average, nearly $10,000 less than those with a diploma; the difference doubles to $20,000 in annual wages when comparing high school and college graduates with a bachelor’s degree.

Naomi Dillon, Senior Editor