Another push to raise dropout age

This from H-L:

...Gov. Steve Beshear has thrown his support behind a long-standing legislative proposal to raise the dropout age in Kentucky from 16 to 18.

"The economic benefits of such a move are obvious both to the individual involved and to the commonwealth," Beshear said in an interview last week in his Capitol office.

He pointed to studies that show most dropouts will earn much less than those with high school diplomas and probably will rely on public assistance. Many are predicted to commit crimes and serve time in prison, he said.

"We should be finding ways to ensure that our children can be success stories rather than failures," the Democratic governor says.

Beshear said he will recommend that lawmakers phase in the change: the compulsory school age would increase from 16 to 17 for incoming freshmen this fall and to 18 for those entering eighth grade.

By raising the dropout age gradually, Beshear can support the increase
without providing money for more teachers, truancy officers and alternative
schools in the next two-year budget, which faces a potential shortfall of $1.5
billion....