Governor Beshear pushing for drop out age to be raised

Updated: Thu 3:05 PM, Jan 03, 2013

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Students wouldn't be permitted to drop out of high school until they're legally adults under a proposal that Gov. Steve Beshear hopes to get approved by the Legislature after they convene next week.

The second-term Democrat who has been pushing for years to gradually raise the dropout age from 16 to 18 said he's hopeful this will be the year that it gets done.

The idea is to change a generations-old law that allows minors to quit school. The dropout age would be raised incrementally over a period of years to 17 and then to 18, giving both students and school districts time to adjust to the change.

Proponents say changing the law has societal benefits because dropouts are more likely go to prison or rely on welfare.

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