By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Two state lawmakers have come up with their own initiatives to help the St. Louis Public Schools.
Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford created Surround Our Schools With Care as a way for state lawmakers from St. Louis to help bring resources and volunteers to local schools.
Monday she announced she was expanding the program to include city aldermen.
"It's basically growing into something that we all own together as our mutual commitment to Surround Our Schools With Care so that we can celebrate some successes," Mott Oxford said.
Representative Jamilah Nasheed helped create "In It to Win It," a grassroots effort to get kids who've dropped out back in school.
"I truly believe that the drop-out problem is a direct correlation to the crime that is plaguing the city of St. Louis, and if we're able to educate our youth, we can reduce the crime here in St. Louis," Nasheed said.
Both legislators say it takes more than lawmakers and school administrators to make a difference.
They want to see participation in the public schools from community members, area churches and businesses.