Bill to raise dropout age clears House panel

This from C-J:

The House Education Committee voted Wednesday to approve a bill that would raise Kentucky's school dropout age from 16 to 18 after Kentucky first lady Jane Beshear urged its passage.

"All of our children should be given the opportunity to realize their full potential," Beshear said in her testimony.

About 6,000 students drop out of Kentucky schools prior to their 18th birthday every year, according to state Education Commissioner Terry Holliday.

Of adjoining states, only West Virginia and Missouri allow children to drop out at age 16...

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....