NORTH CAROLINA -- The issue of alternative education and funding has come to the forefront as the state’s dropout rate continues to climb. Parents, educators and state leaders are wondering what can be done to keep kids in school and get a high-quality education.

New numbers released on Thursday show the dropout rate jumped to 5.25 percent last year, meaning 23,550 students quit school. Localizing the problem, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Forsyth County Schools saw rates jump to 6.4 percent. Durham and Guilford counties say a drop.

To discuss this problem, News 14 Carolina welcomed two experts to the studio.

Joseph Garcia from the New Schools Project sat down to discuss alternative education programs to help students get diplomas.

Darrell Allison from Parents for Education Freedom was in the studio to talk about choice.

We want to know what you think about the issue. What form of alternative education and funding programs do you support the most? Cast your vote in our unscientific SnapPoll to the right. As of Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. 32 percent of voters favored no alternative education and funding programs, and another 32 percent favored a voucher program.

Cast your vote and feel free to leave a comment on the issue.