Posted: | March 27, 2015 10:51 AM |
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From: | Representative Dan L. Miller |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Increase “compulsory school age” from 17 years old to 18 years old (Re-introduction of HB 2270) |
Currently, state law mandates compulsory school age attendance to end for students in the Commonwealth at age 17. This means that a seventeen-year-old can drop out of high school without parental consent. My legislation amends the definition of “compulsory school age” to increase the age from 17 years old to 18 years old. The statistics are overwhelming that those who do not graduate high school face more difficult challenges and greater economic insecurity. The reality is that in this economy, failure to graduate high school severely hinders future opportunities for our kids. Dropout rates in several areas of our Commonwealth have reached a near epidemic, and I believe that we must assist school districts in developing dropout prevention policies that will increase graduation rates. Removing the option for a seventeen-year-old to sign himself or herself out of school without a parent’s consent is a step in that direction. Approximately 21 other states have a compulsory school age requirement of 18. Please join me in supporting this legislation, and working to increase the chance of success for our students. PREVIOUS CO-SPONSORS INCLUDE: J. HARRIS, V. BROWN, MILLARD, McCARTER, BISHOP, YOUNGBLOOD, KIM, MULLERY, SWANGER, ENGLISH, ROZZI, KORTZ, MURT, BROWNLEE, READSHAW, MILNE, TRUITT, ROEBUCK, DONATUCCI AND COHEN |
Introduced as HB2032