Rescuing high school dropouts in Hartford, Manchester

"Hartford and Manchester are among a dozen communities across the country involved in maximizing use of federal stimulus money to get high school dropouts and other 'disconnected' young people into the working world," the Hartford Courant reports.

Youth-service and jobs specialists will be trained on how to use stimulus funds to help young people who've left school, lack jobs and skills, and are in danger of becoming chronic drains on society, according to the Courant. The program, called City Leaders Re-engaging Disconnected Youth through Economic Recovery Efforts, is sponsored by the National League of Cities.