Our dropout problem is almost nil in our school district and I think the food program has been a big contributing factor. In a subsequent exchange between Senator CHILES and Mr. Taylor. the committee was told that the dropout rate in the San Diego School District had dropped from over 300 per year to less than 16 and Mr. Taylor said he attributed that directly to the availability of his free lunch program. Mr. Taylor also reported 6 years ago he had 450 children being pulled out of school by their migrant worker parents to accompany them in their pursuit of employment. Today. according to Mr. Taylor. that number has dropped to below 100.